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IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


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"e   Kfi    lllll^ 

1.8 


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IL25  i  1.4 


1.6 


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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  N.Y.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


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^^ 


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'^'•^^\^'^ 


f/j 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attemfSted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the'  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


0 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurde  et/ou  pelliculde 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  dtre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  gdographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Relid  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  serrde  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajoutdes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  dtait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  6t6  filmdes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  suppl^mentaires: 


L'Instltut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  dt6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


D 
D 
D 
0 
D 


n 


Coloured  pages/ 
Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 

Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 
Pages  ddcolordes,  tachetdes  ou  piqudes 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 


E71    Showthrough/ 
—I    Transparence 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Qualitd  indgale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  6td  film^es  d  nouveau  de  fapon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmd  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous 

10X                             14X                             18X                             22X 

26X 

30X 

J 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

lire 

details 
jes  du 
modifier 
)er  une 
filmage 


The  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Quebec 


The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


L'exemplaire  film^  fut  reproduit  grdce  d  la 
g6n6rosit6  de: 

Bibliothdque  nationale  du  Quebec 


Les  images  suivantes  ont  6t6  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  condition  et 
de  la  nettet^  de  l'exemplaire  film6,  et  en 
conformity  avec  lea  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  Ail 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


des 


Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprim^e  sont  filmds  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  selon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmds  en  commenpant  par  la 
premidre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  dernidre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»- (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END  "), 
whichever  applies. 


Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparattra  sur  la 
dernidre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN". 


re 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratio^j.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmud 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method; 


Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
filmds  d  des  taux  de  reduction  diff^rents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clich6,  il  est  film6  d  partir 
de  Tangle  supdrieur  gauche,  de  gauche  d  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  n6cessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mdthode. 


^  errata 
id  to 

It 

le  pelure, 

pon  d 


n 


1 

2 

3 

32X 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

i 


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PASTORAL     LETTER 


AND 


CONCILIARY  DISCOURSE 


OK    TIIK 


Most  Hi:v.  F.  N.  BLANCHET,D.I). 


AUCHHIsno]'    OF    OI{KGOX    CITV; 


A  r,si  », 


ADDRESS  TO   POPE   PIXTS  IX 


OF   THK 


CLERGY    AND    LAITY    OF    THE    ECC;LP:SL\STTCAL 
PROVINCE  OF  OREGON. 


PORTLAND,  OREGON : 

CA^rHOIIG  SENTINEL  PRINTING  ESTABLISHMENT. 

1871. 


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PASTORAL     LETTER 


AM) 


CONCILIARY  DISCOURSE 


.»F    I'lTK 


AIosi  Ri:v.  F.  N.  BLANCHET,D.D. 


AKCHI'.ISIIOP    OF    OREGON    CiTr; 


ALSO, 


ADDRESS  TO   POPE  PIUS  IX. 


«>F   THE 


<'l.EIiGY    AN]:)    J.AITY    OF    THE    ECCLESIASTICAL 
PROVINCE  OF  OREGON. 


poim:^NU  OREGON :    ; 

CATHOLIC  SENTINEL*  PRINTING  ESTABLILHxMENT. 


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•  •     • 


PASTORAL  LJ  ^r^r  I  :ii 

CONCERNING  THE  TWO  FIRST  DOOMATIC  CONSTITIJTIONS  OF  THE  (ECl  MKNK  Al, 

VATICAN  COUNCIL. 


P     ]( 


FRANCIS  NORHERT  BLANCHE! 


BY  THE  ORACE  OF  (H)D  ANT)  THE    FAVOR   OF  THE   HOLY    APOSTOLIC   SEE, 

ARCHBISHOP  OF  ORBHION  CITY  : 


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1 


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To  the  Clergy  and  Faithful  of  our  Archdiocese,  Greeting, 

Health  and  Benediction,  in  Jesits  Christ  our  Lord- 

Venebaui-e  Brethren  ov  tick  Ci  euoy  and  Dkaui.y  Bei.ovk.h  Hiikthrcx  oi-  riii;  Laity 


When  we  left  you  lui  the  Tith  of  Octolier,  lust. 
yeftr,  for  the  QCoumcuieiil  Cotmcil  of  the  Viitir.iui, 
to  he  opened  on  the  8th  of  Dcceinbor,  we  exixioted 
to  be  only  a  few  months  absent  from  our  Diocf-sc  ; 
and  behold,  ten  months  have  nearly  elapsed,  and 
we  are  still  in  Rome,  not  knowing  when  we  may 
be  allowed  to  return  among  you.  ^laiiy  of  the 
Prelates  have  obtained  pt^rmissiou  to  return  to 
their  Dioceses,  on  acconnt  of  bad  health  or  urgent 
necessities  of  their  churches  :  but  to  those  having 
no  such  excuses,  the  Holy  Father  has  rt^comoud- 
ed  to  remain.  Thinking  ourstdves  to  be  in  the 
condition  of  the  last,  we  have  resolved  to  call  for 
no  leave,  although  it  is  hard  to  remain  so  long 
from  our  dear  tloek.  But  be  well  assured,  be- 
loved brethren,  that  although  absent  and  very  far 
from  you,  our  mind  and  our  heart  are  still  with 
you,  so  that  we  have  you  daily  before  our  eyes 
and  we  daily  pray  for  you  and  bless  you  from  the 
holy  altar,  .ind  this  we  do  in  a  special  manner, 
when,  coming  out  of  the  Conciliary  Chapel,  we 
go  and  kneel  down  at  the  rail  of  the  confession 
of  St.  Peter,  with  a  large  niimber  of  Cardinals 
and  Prelates.  Prostrated  there  before  the  tomb 
of  the  Prince  of  Apostles,  we  pour  forth  our  soul 
in  the  presence  of  God  in  acts  of  thanksgiving  to 
our  dear  blessed  Saviour  for  all  He  has  done  for 
the  whole  world,  through  His  first  Vicar  upon 
earth,  reconunending  our  Diocese,  our  Clergy,  our 


Sisters,  our  dour  faithful,  the  fervent,  the  luki- 
warm  and  thi>  jXH)r  sinner,  to  the  {jowerful  inter- 
cession of  the  great  fimnder  of  the  (^hun^h,  and 
fervently  Vjegging  of  Him  to  obtain  from  His 
Divine  Master  all  that  any  or  every  one  of 
you  may  l>e  in  need  of,  spiritually  or  ttsmporally, 
in  order  that  you  may  nil  make  sun;  your  salva- 
tion. And  this  prayer  we  will  continue  to  say 
and  rejx3at  as  long  as  wt;  remain  in  the  Eternal 
City.  But  this  testimony  of  our  love  and  afFection 
is  not  the  first  one  wo  have  sent  you,  for  it 
has  been  many  tir  »•«  preceded  with  .some,  more 
private,  it  is  true,  '^  if  'lo  less  warm  marks  of  our 
affectionate  ren»embru  kjcs  of  you  all. 

In  the  first  place  we  will  s^M^ak  to  you,  beloved 
brethren,  of  the  first  dogmatic  constitution  on  the 
Catholic  faith,  proclaimed  and  confirmed  in  the 
third  Public  Se.ssion,  held  on  the  24th  of  April, 
A.  D.  1870.  It  has  for  its  object  the  condemna- 
tion— tst,  of  the  errors  of  alwolute  rationalism, 
under  the  form  of  materialism,  pantheism  and 
vulgar  rationalism  ;  2d,  the  errors  of  semi-ration- 
alism, or  temperate  rationalism,  practiced  by 
men  glorifying  themselves  with  the  name  of 
christian,  with  regard  to  christian  knowledge  by 
Divine  faith  in  comparison  with  rational  and 
natural  science,  and  con.se<|uently  with  regai"d  t<» 
the  relation  between  Divine  revelation  and  hu- 
man reason,  between  faith  and  science  ;  3d,  of  the 


52415 


p 


4 


-.[►•riiil  .•i-ior-i  whii)i  111''  li'lnii  'il  \,y  ilii.  tiii'tli(i4 
«»f  ^'iiii-ni'iDiiiiliMiti  mil  t'rum  it«  fui-nifr  pi-im-ipliN 
t'lii'  Ml  ■  |i"rvt'i'si(ni  i»i'  Hiitri!!  I'liriHtiiiii  ilo/max, 
wlh'tll'M"  rtdi'i'i'iiiii  c  till'  m'niiiliH  m'li'*  •  iif  soiin' 
tnitlisof  fiiith,  |i;'iii  •!;)  illy  with  )i';;unl  to  niituri' 

iHl'l  l^riK'",  HI-  ti(  lliliir.il  itii  1   >Wji 'llllhllMl    oiilri'. 

'Di'-ic  c'lToiN,  vvliirli  ill'"  thi"  iiH'<j)riii>^  nf  tli  ■  \>vi- 
ifiidiil  l{'t'iiriii.iti'iii  (if  til"  Mixtt'i'iitli  ii'iitiiry,  uri' 

til'-  r(>iis"i|ii  'II of  til    thr.'ii  >ir*''«''  '•vil'*  wliii'li  it 

liniiiyjlit  into  tliii  I'clifjiiiiis  world — :i  hi'Iisl"  of  dih- 
LfiiMl,  iin  1  Hiorii  lor  iill  iiiadu  of  rclivcion,  iv  viol'iit 
liiilri'il  for  ami  \v,ir  ii:,';iiint.  ri'li;/iiMiM  iniit,t.r.'ri*,  fol- 
lowed by  ii  d  1  J)  ;i'iyt»»  of  iiii  iiiity.  Ivi't  nil  r''ud 
;iiid  jiid^C'';  tli  ■  .•rror>' tioiidc/iiiii'd  liy  tlii' ( 'oiuiidl  i.f 
Trcii',  iifti'i-  liiiviii;^  rcj.'it.'d  th"  Divine  iiiithority 
of  tile  ('hiircli,  iind  l'uviii:f  matters  of  f:iitli  to 
llie  private  jii  l^'iii  11',  of  e^■l'l•y  oii",  Imve  little  liy 
little  dividi' I  th  ■ijisehes  iii*o  iiiiuiy  dis;ij^i'eeiii^ 
uiid  discordant  s'l-'-",  so  that  it  len^'tli  nil  faith  in 
(lirist  h;i.s  ti.eii  loit  liy  many.  They  luive  ^'oiie 
still  fiirth  'r,  i'or  they  liavi'  hej^uii  to  ileiiy  that 
t.hi'  Marred  Script  ores  wliieh  they  afflriiiod  wiik 
the  fountain  and  the  only  one  jiid^'e  of  ehristjun 
doctrine  :ii"e  Divine,  and  they  have  iven  likened 
tlu:m  to  iiiythieal  stoiies.  Are  not  thesu  facts 
very  apt  t;<>  hrinu;  dlsLrus*  and  scorn  ii]i<)n  relij^ion  •' 
And  UK  men  often  pass  from  the  distiust  and 
s<'.orn  of  ii  tliini<  t,o  an  hatred  for  it,  there  has 
takmi  root  and  haM  Inen  wide-sjiread  tlirou^rhont 
tlio  world,  that  doctrine  of  ratioTialisin,  or  natnr- 
iilisiii,  whi(di  attacks  with  all  its  toree  ihe  chris- 
tian ri.diji;ion,  because  it  is  a  supernatural  institu- 
tion, in  order  tha'  it  may  estaldish  the  reign  of 
that  which  ;h;y  call  pure  reason  and  nature,  by 
driviii;<<  "hris*!,  who  is  our  s<jle  Lord  and  Saviour, 
fro\u  the  hiiia  ;.i  mind  aini  fi<Mii  thelifcMid  mati- 
^iiers  of  uatiou-.  'viid  from  this  iiiitiious  war  the 
^  (XJ'i  ual.iiralis'.  soon  passes  to  the+iH^  abyss  ot^jiajran- 
ism,  worse  tlian  the  life-Ion;^'  pairan  ;  for  the 
mind  of  iiiaiiy,  after  thus  iiliaudoniiii;'  and  re- 
jeetin-j^  the  (  hrisl.iaii  reliifiou,  after  iKuyiutr  the 
true  (jl-od  and  His  St)ii,  J(  sus  Christ,  falls  at  last 
into  the  abyss  of  i'anthtdsm,  of  matciiidi^iii  and 
of  atheism  ;  so  (hat,  denyintr  rational  natur'  it- 
self, and  i^very  1"^*  "f  justii-i;  au'l  truth,  they  are 
tryinjj;  l^>  destroy  the  very  foundation  of  human 
society. 

-Vnd  what-  i<  :iiori  di'ploiable,  tlji,  spirit  of 
d."nying' '  rod,  His  revelation,  christian  i\die'ion, 
and  everythinij;  l)ut,  a  natural  reliirion  of  reason, 
is  [lublicly  taneht  and  propa;j;atcd,  }>.irticnlarly 
in  I'aiitipe,  even  ia  universities,  by  infidel  pro- 
fessovs.  These  men  arc  tryinu"  to  cast  <uit  (-Jod 
and  ndij^ion  fn>m  the  worhl,  and  ihcy  are  seekint;' 
to  do  it  throu>rtj  jjfoveiiH'U'uts,  throiiedi    universi- 


ties, throiin'h  schoids,  press,  and  every  mode  of 
intliK'nec  and  |Miw<'r  that  thoy  can  cxrreiNc.  Nn 
wonder,  then,  that  lhi«  impiety  lias  so  rapidly 
ailvani'cd  from  every  iiuartcr,  that  even  many  of 
the  (hildrcn  of  tlie  t'hurch  have  wandered  from 
till'  path  of  true  piety,  and  thnniMh  them  ' 'atho- 
hi'  Ihouyht  has  bi  I'll  wc  akeued  by  tliis  ^^radnal 
Weakening  of  truth;  for,  sediii:ed  by  these  divers 
and  straiij^e  doctrines,  and  mali(rioiisly  confound- 
\\\\i,  nature  and  K""'"'''!  human  knowled<i'e  and  Di- 
vine faith,  they  are  trying,'  to  imperil  the  j^ennini- 
sense  of  the  doKinas  which  our  h(dy  mothfr,  the 
Church,  holds  and  t>'aches.  and  t<i  corrupt  the  in- 
teifrity  of  the  faith. 

At  the  si;jht  of  these  evils  the  innermost  heart 
(if  th(^  ('linndi  is  moved.  She  calls  all  her  tirst 
liastors,  from  the  four  (juartcrs  of  the  world,  into 
n  (Jeneral  ('oum  il.  .V ml  that  holy  I'hundi,  al- 
ways n^ady  and  (M\'(!r  to  raise  ni>  tlu^  falh^n,  to 
strenthen  the  weak,  t()  embrace,  those  who  re- 
turn, to  confirm  tht'  good  and  urge  tlicm  to 
jK'rfcetioii,  wdiat  .shall  she  (h)  on  this  wdemii  occa- 
sion in  order  to  put  a  stop  to  these,  impious  and 
monstrous  errors,  to  apply  a  salutary  remedy  to 
their  obnoxious  intlueuco  and  to  remove  all  dan- 
gers from  the  (christian  people?  She  will,  in  the 
first  place,  expose  hin-  doctrine:  that  there  is  a 
lihd  who  made  all  things;  that  He  may  be 
known  even  by  the  natural  light  of  human  rea- 
son ;  that  there  is  a  rf^velation  and  a  christian 
religion;  that  man  is  bound  to  give  a  revealing 
(rod,  by  faith,  the  full  homage  of  his  intellect 
and  will ;  that  although  faith  lie  above  reason, 
theiecan  never  be  any  discord  between  them,  be- 
cause God,  who  reveals  niysteries  and  infiifies 
f.iith,  has  giv(^n  man's  mind  the  light  of  reason  ; 
.and  iJod  neiiher  denies  Hims>df,  nor  can  truth 
contradict  ^trnth.  And  after  this  exposition  of 
her  faith,  the  (ninnh  c<mdemns  the  errors  that 
are  ojniost'd  t<t  it,  and  i^ven  strikes  their  authors 
and  their  abettors  with  the  greatest  anathema  she 
may  use,  "  for  tht^  destriKition  of  the  tlesh,  that 
the  spirit  tiuiy  fa;  saved  in  the  day  of  our  Lord 
.lesus  ('hrist. "  1 1  CVir.  Ti,  5.]  Such  is  the  spirit 
of  the  ('hnrch  ;  she  strikes  in  order  to  save. 

IVfore  (dosing  this  dreadful  and  atflieting  siib- 
jeet,  we  cannot  refrain  from  making  a  remark. 
it  is  not,  indeed,  a  mo(-t  wondei-fnl  and  a  most 
dejdoraldo  spectacle  that  in  our  age,  the  nine- 
teenth century — an  age  txtasting  of  so  much 
light,  so  mmdi  leai'ning,  so  much  progress  in 
every  bramdi  of  learning  and  useful  science — there 
should  be  found  men  denying  Ood,  revelation  and 
(  hristian  religion  ;  men  ignoring  who  made  them, 
when(;e  they  came  fr(jTn  and  when('e  they  are  going 


rrr 


cry  iiiitdc  iif 
'XfTciNi'.  No 
H  HO  nipidly 
[.veil  many  <>f 
imdin-fl  frnin 

tl\iin  ''iitlio- 

\h\*  Kriiiltiiil 

y  t^U'^*l'  (liviTS 
mly  (M)IlfouU(l- 

l((Vf  iiiiil  Di- 
ll til.'  ►CfimiiK' 
ly  miith'T,  the 
•orrnpt  the  in- 

iiniiupst    hoiu-t 
lis  all  li.T  rtrst 
til,,  world,  into 
y    riiunih,    til- 
ths  fiiUt^i,  t" 
those    vvlio    rn- 
urgc    t-lifiu    <" 
lisHiili'mu  ncort- 
lo   inipiouH   iiml 
iiry   rcnicily   t» 
Kinovti  Jill  Aiin- 
Sho  will,  in  tho 
that    there   is  a 
at    Ho    may   be 
of   human  roa- 
and  a  christian 
j;\vc  a  rovcaling 
of  his   intollect 
10  ahovo   reason, 
tweon  them,  Ih;- 
\hh  and    infiiHcn 
Vi^ht  (if  reason: 
nor  can  truth 
is  exposition  "f 
the    ern^rs    that 
■s  their  authors 
t  anathema  t<he 
,f  the  rtesh,  that 
;ay  of   our  liOrd 
iieh  is  the  spirit 

r  t*)  save. 
i,\  atMieting-  sub- 
,lciii!v   a  n^inark. 
•ful    and  a  most 
.i(r,.     the  nine- 
nj.-    of   so    much 
n<:li    pro^'ress   in 
111  seienee— there 
id,  revelation  and 
who  made  thorn, 
retheyave^oing 


for"     So    tliiit  an    <lviim«  iiiiai    Cuiin.il    must   !»•   dm  iiine  i  ontniiied  in  tin  de|«iHit.ii  y  of  ie\ .  1  iticm, 

HHMCtllhlt  d  tu    teadi   ihelll   the    .  1.  Ilieiit.iiy    doirilHis    liud  nut    llie   >«■<■*  nf    (iiillieiillistn   ImMly  eonie  f.pf 

wliiihc.iir  little  children  already  now,  and  a  ward  un<l  ehiilli  npd  the  ( 'Imn  li  by  its  (,p|Hisitic.n 
truth  Nvliieh  cvi-n  the  pii^ran  Indians  of  our  |oi-  iiiid  d*  iii;il  ..t' a  loitrim  slic  liail  }\<\,\  iVcmi  tlic 
cHfh  have  lenincd  hy  the  sole  natural  liirht  nf  r.  a-  !'■  ^^iimin  ,',  It  tlienfoie  1h  e^me  Iwr  imiHricuM  Q 
"(in!  Ah!  the  wdutionof  ihiM  ho  humiliating'  iluty  to  ilef,  n  1,  prov..  and  defin,  the  conl.st.d 
fact  of  our  H^e,  is  very  easy-  "  (lod  resists  the  point;  iiii  1  so  inueh  w.  l,.>iiuse  what  was  coiisi.l- 
pnmd  and  uives  Ilis  ^rnice  to  tin'  hiinihle."  [.St.  ered  by  many  prilatcs  in  tlf  lM,Mniiin;,'  as  inop- 
.laJiics,  t.  (l.l  Ood,  therefore,  withdraws  unil  ixn'nne.  was  made  l.y  the  fierce  (;allic  an  opin.si- 
liidcs  Iliiiis.U'  and  His  truths  fium  t-iieli  us  ar.'  tion,  not  oidy  opiK.rtime  but  i.f  tli.  ^rreatcst  ne- 
piiffcd  14.  Willi  the  coni'cit  of  tlieirown  wit  or  ecssity.  Tliat  opposition  eairie  from  within  and 
learninjr,  or  any  oth.r  talents,    whether   naturjil   without  ilie  Coniicil. 

or  (vc  piired  ;  whilst  He  disi  luscs  flis  secrets  to  It  is  certainly  very  painful  tu  s,.i  iccurded  in 
the  little  and  humble,  [St.  .Matt.  II.  ■J•^, Mills  the  within  opi».sitinii,  the  naiiie>  nf  some  of  our 
their  souls  with  Ileuvcnly  li'..:ht  Miid  works  His  mu^t  ri'sji-rtid  and  Lived  l''iilheis  n nil  also  the 
liivatest  wonders  I  ly  them.  Ah,  h  t  ns  atlinire,  iiiinies  of -oin"  leuriied  an  I  illust  rious  ihampio:is 
lielovnl  hrcthren,  and  ailore  the  wonderful  ways  of  the  t'hurch,  wlm,  liy  their  writin>j;s,  hail  .so 
of  the  wisdom  of  (KhI.  Tjcarn  from  tliis  to  avoid  well  deserved  from  her.  Would  to  (iod  that  the 
pride  and  self  conceit,  and  to  he  always  humble,  ■.■•ifted  talents  which  they  used  with  su  'niieh  ef- 
if  yon  wish  to  preserve  the  true  faith  ;  for  faith  fort  on  the  ivroiii;'  side,  had  been  employed  with 
itself,  which  is  commonly  looked  «hhju  as  tlio  tic  same  i)ersistency  fur  a  cause  more  worthy  of 
fo\inda*ion  of  all  good,  and  without  which  it  is  their  zeal  I  The  imtside  ii|i|Hisitiiiii  was  composed 
imiHissible  to  plciise  (lod,  [Hehrews,  11.  <),]  absii-  of  the  sci-callul  "libei'Ml  ( 'athulic  party,"  and  of 
liilely  depends  upon  humility — even  that  humil-  all  tin.  em.mies  of  our  holy  reli^fioii,  assisted  hy 
ity  which  obli^fcs  the  soul  to  adore  \\hat  it  can-  the  impious  and  infidel  jiress,  jiouring  daily  tho 
not  understand  ;  to  submit  to  the  most  hiimiliatinj^  tilth  of  their  furious  ra,i,'e  un  the  Holy  I'tither  and 
truths,  and  to  "cast  down  every  lieiL,'!)!  that  ex-  1  lie  defenders  of  his  ri',''hts.  It  was  therefore  pain- 
alteth  itself  against  the  knowledge  of  (iod,  and  ful  to  the  highest  degree  tusec  the  inopjiortnnists 
to  bring  into  captivity  every  understanding  to  jiraised,  oxalteil  and  raiseil  up  to  Heaven  liy  --iicli 
the  obedience  of  ( 'hrist.'"  i'.'.  for.  1(1.  ).  ."i.'  (  >,  wii-ked  men  and  a  wie'^ele  il  pris-,  encouraged  and 
I.oid  .b  siis  I  ;_'i\es  us  a  spirit  of  humility  .iiid  in-  snpjMirteil  by  'he  impiiPiis  aihl  intld'l  journals 
I  I'ease  our  faith  ;  grant  that  it  mtiy  l>c  .1  lively  wliosi.  euliinins  euntaitieil  the  most  feiirfullilasphe- 
and  practical  faith.  Such  a  treasure,  hehived  mies  against  all  that  is  goud  ami  holy  ;  whilst, 
lirelhreu,  may  be  ohlained  liy  desiiing,  by  seek-  on  the  contr.iry,  thi  y  hail  lait  shancfnl  niisrejire- 
t,  itig  and  by  heartjy  praying  for  it.  senlations  ami   nialieions  ealuiunies  fur  the  great 

In  the  ,H(.coud  place,  we  will  sjieak  to  ytui,  he-  majority  fa vuriuL,'  the  definition.  Such  a  false, 
|iiv(.d  brethren,  of  the  important  dogma  wb.ich  disagreeable  and  unenvialile  pd-ii  Ion  of  the  minor- 
was  defined  and  prcuuulgated  on  the  ISth  iiisi.,  in  ity  inthimed  the  /(  al  ofuuenf  the  l-'athcrs,  Hisliop 
'he  fourth  pulilic  session  of  (he  Vatican  (Meuinen-  (Itistaldi,  of  Sahices,  on  lie-  thirty-.sccoiul  day  of 
ieal  Council,  that  of  the  infallibility  of  the  Pop..,  the  discussi  in  of  the  fc/diiii,  .su  that,  itlluding  tu 
speaking  (.r  '■"fhclf',  on  nuitters  of  faith  ami  i!  in  a  streim  of  elo  piem^e,  he  said;  "for  my 
morals,  as  ihi>  doctor  of  all  christians.  Let,  it  be  ptirt,  if  T  had  the  misfortune  to  find  my  name 
Well  understood  that  the  Pontifical  infallibility  mentioned  by  such  wicked  journals,  T  would  think 
is  not  a  novelty  or  a  new  doctrine,  as  some  pre-  it  was  ctFai'ed  from  the  Hook  of  T.ifc."  A  fi  w 
tend  to  assert,  for  it  has  always  btien  believed  and  days  after,  many  on  both  sides  of  the  unestioure- 
prauticed  in  the  Church,  though  not  dognuitii'ally  nounci-d  speaking  any  further, 
defined.  It  has  always  heiai  admitted  by  all  the-  Xow,  lielo\'ed  brethren,  as  t.he.se  niisrepresi^nta- 
ological  schools  and  thi;  most  illustrious  doctors,  tioiis  tind  slanders  nnulc  against  the  Holy  Father 
and  reeogni/ed  liy  the  ancienr  assemblies  of  the  and  the  majority  of  the  Council,  inay  have  been 
Church,  hifure  the  violent  intrusion  of  (Talliciin-  carried  into  Oregon,  we  intend  giving  to  all  the 
ism,  ai'complished  by  tho  order  of  Louis  XI\'.  means  of  knowing  tho  truth,  and  cionsiM^uently  of 
'I'he  Church  might  have  continued  practicing  the  correcting  and  rectifj-ing  the  wrong  impressions 
Piipal  iufallibility  and  believing  it,  as  she  has  any  one  might  have  received  by  reading  the  re- 
done in  all  past  centuries,  without  defining  it,  as  jM)rt  of  these  journals,  or  any  othir  produ(;tions, 
sh,;.  has  successively  defined  many  other  points  of  blaming  the  (Ecumenical  Council.      We  expect  to 


i 


iilitiiiii  "iiir  ul.jt  ,-t  ill  ,j:\\\ni(  n  »l<.t.:li  .if  <  1  illi.'iiii-  r.i'lnr  llami.  iv,  S,  .1.,    w.  iv  .1,  «l  IiumI  t,,    rtiuilyr.- 

i-«rii,    Its   iiNiiinitiiiim   ami    fi'iiilcnii's,    und  hdiii.'  tli>' i"U-.titiitiiiii  nf  tlu'  rlmnli,    in  nmkiii^  it  r>- 

lniM.f-  i>f  t)i.'  ili)>.'iiiii  wliirh  itliamlari'dto  iiiipiiKii  iinsiiituHvi'  aii'l  tli-'  .  [.Inc  .i|Mt.'  i)iirti(i|niut  nt  tli. 

with  -.1  li.iijf  mill  Ml  iiiiK'h  tcii!iri»y.  I'.mf  itlcMl  -.ov<ni',Miity,  n.  far  jih  al>lr,  in  ('.nuicil. 

llulli.aiii-'iii    wiiH  u.it    kiii-wii    IhIuiv    tin- ki"uI  In  il.  j,,..*'  ihr  I'l.pr,  wh.  i,  tliiH  ln^'li  inaml  il'iry  «if 

wt'i»t,(a'iiHc  liisiM.     liiiil  tlirii,  that  iMiliiiiuj^flftc  VII  thf  AiMMliiIir    limly,  iilistiiiatr  in  a  jn  n;>,nil,  »,  !•■ 

(^••HtiiHi'M,  111.    I'.ailili.iil  iiifallil.ilify    wuh  |.riirli-  «'/'//«■  aii.l  al.>«)lnt.'    iiifallil.ilify,    vv..iil.1    nfiis.' t.. 

(•ally  a.'kii.iwl.Ml^v.l.     Tli.'  liiwi    >lia.l..w    tlir.iwn  j"iii  wiMi  \)\r  iiiaj.ii'ily.     Tliis  aiiar.lii.al  H\«t.iii, 

iijioii  Unit  li^'lit  .  am.'    IV.. Ill  lh.it    t.  mi.  r,!    wlii.  li  ■^li'lt''f'''l    mi'l'T    'li.!    fpiHciinil     .  liara.t.T,    wii^ 

i.l.-t.iir..l    f..r    Hi.v.nty    y.  ar.s    tlic    licav.n  i.f    tli.>  h  iil>'l   I'y  Hi f    liiinilr.d  voIiut*  (if    tli.'  n-v.ilii- 

w.Mt.'rn    (linnli.      Tli.'    il..„'iiniti.'iil    (}alli.aniNi,i  ti,.niny    i.iinil.iiiuiiiiiin    um    thf    ivHtnivr    .>f    \h>- 

ilat.-,  fn.in  that  tiMiiMr.l  ..iMMh.      In    that  t  iiii.'  it  mni' "*    t'hiinh    uf    Clirinl.       'I'li-'ii    f..n..w.'il     a 

wiiH  flrMt,  Mi'.'n  ami  tli.ii  K.-^faii  t.i  .'.i)r..a,l  ;   and  tlir  »hai  (>  iiolnnic    ..n  the  aii.la.iuiis  plan,  w  iii.li  hud 

Cunncil  of  Tivnt  t.Tiiiinat.il  .•v.'nh.fuiv  that  .sys-  f'>r  ilx  Mipi'ort  all  tin' fn.ini.-.  of  tin' I  hiinli  ami 

t.'fii    of    nli«i..ii.i    inf.'.tiun    had    tak.'n    it.*    full  Hi.'  1'ai.ary.      I'liLli.- ..pinion  wan  niin-'d  to  a  lii;,di 

m-<.wth.     'I'll.'  (•..ntii.v.  isy  hail  n.it  aHstinicdNiitii-  pi''!'  of  ffrfrviv  n."  I.y  all  kinds  of  .■*..phi'«inH,  M.'a- 

(d.'iit,  iiiiiM.rtan.'o  t..    .lia w  tli     wlid..  att.ntion  ..f  *""''l    with  donhtfid,    ap.Miyi.liil    and   falf.>  hi^- 

tln-  Connidl,  i.ivoc.'iipi.'.l  ali..s.'  all  with  the  ^vr;A  tnri's,  fahri.Mti'd  l.y  sfclarian.s  against  the  rop-'s. 

h-'ivwy  whi.di  th.-n  ov.r.spr.a.l  I'lnrop...      Hut  ..vcn  '•'»"■  I^'ipn'T  was  di'^.Mi.ssi-d  and    dfiii.d    in  its  .-.s- 

th.ii  (liitholi<dty  did  not  d.ailit   lliat  tli.'  .  rror  op-  *'"'i'  1'}'  Vnurh  paini.hl.'tn.rs,    >,^iviii;,'  ai.l  to  th.' 

pos.d  to  th.'    I'ontill.al    infallil.ilily    ..mid    Imvc  <^''''"'ii»'  l«H"l'^'''  "f  ''''•  I>'illiii^"'i'-  'ddd.  ii  nndi'V 

1„.,.„  con.lfinncd.  fl"'  p*iidonynio  of  ./<0( '/>.      Aicunlinj^  to  tlir  doi- 

Hiitwhih"  (ialluwiisin  first  llonrisli.d,  fh.  n  .!,-  'rin.'  whi.h  wan  drawn  In  the  famous  drilanvlioti 

(din.'d.  and,    in  ..ur   days.  ai,'ain    tiud    t.i  infii.su  "f ''"'•'!<•>'■*  "♦'    "lan,  it  was    no  more    th.' past..r 

Komr  vitality  into  its  .xpiiin-  l.ody,  th.'  Holy  S. r  ^^1"'  da.iild  -..v.rn  th.-  Il...'k  and  -iv.'  it  th.'  spii- 

has  Hlniiiltiincou.sly  don- two  things  :  it  nrv.T  dr-  '^"''1  f"'"l  "f 'h-    .hiistian    t.arhiu,^';  l.iit  it,  wan 

tin.d  it  and  always  protist.'d  a^'ainst  it,  and  this,  ""'  ""•■!<  'I'"*  -^l'""!'!  ml.' and  f..'d  the  pastor;  and 

top'th.T  with    th.'ahs.'n.a-of  do^'inati.al    dcHni-  i'"  this  was  a.kiiuwl.'dy:."!  an    infallihlc  .loi't..r,  it 

tiou  and  the  (nintinui'dprcs.'n.v  of  pul.lic  protista-  was  lait  as  tli.' ..r>r:in  of  thr  .'pisropal  l.o.ly  .'oni- 

tion,  oonipriHi's  tho  two  paralUl    facts  whUdi  tills  ninnicatinj,H..  hiia  its  infallil.ilily.  Thus  wilhd  it 

th.'Hi!  last  .■(■ntitrit'H  and  .shows  th.;  ilo.^trin.-  in  its  »'"'  ^'"'i''!  pro^Ti'ss  of  iii.id.iii   tini.'s,    s..v.r.'i.-iity 

tni.)  liKht,  that  is,  imt  '/,///,  ^' aul  .'/w,.      And,  in  "f  >''■■  """il"'"'  iiitr..du.,'d  in  lli.' (  hur.h  as  in  ih.' 

Ih.'  ni.'anwhilc,     Ihr    historl.al    nianif.'.sl.iti.iii  of  ^♦■''''-      And  tl  is  was    call.d  a   r.'tnrn    to  th.- an- 

th.'  I'apal   infallihiility    had    pro-nssed    and  a.l-  ''i'lit  I'oiistitnt  ion  of  thf  .'hnstian  society,  aitcord- 

vaii.'cd,  and    had  he,  n    ni.Hv  pra.'tir,  d    and  inor.  t..  whi.di  our  Lord    J.  sns  ( 'Inisl,    had    not    estah- 

au(daini.'d  than  .'wr  .luring-  thrs.' last  thn-r  liiin-  l'-'"''  TFis  ■•hiir.h  npc-n  a  fundaiii.  iital  ro.'k,  hut 

dri'd  A'.'iirs.  iipi.n  a  pih'  of  stou.  s  with.iiit    ndh.  sion,  -with  th.' 

tfnt'h  was  the  stato  of  the  411.  .■.ti,,u  uf  Calli.an-  ii.-.'id.  ni;.l  fact  of  a  niaj.irity  and  a  .'..nstitntional 

ism  boforc  tho  year  l^'OT.      One  would    have  sup-  .■inai.hical  Poi..' ;   aii.l  finally,  a  r..p'  d.'thn.n.'d, 

jMised  that  the  sect  wa«    dead  and    Imrle.l,    wluii  '"'  ''^'  1''"^'  o!,li-...l  to  r 'nd.r  an  a. ■.•..nut  .vry  t.n 

n.3t  lon^'iifter  the  world  was  inf..rm.d  that  Bishop  V'"!"^  •"  *^''  <  Viuncil. 
.Maret,  of  Sura,  I'ti  purtlms,  was  pn  paring;  a  work 

to  revive  it.      Th.'  piildi.;  mind  was    niii.li  ast.m-        This    theory,     wlii.h     was  Imt.  a   denial   of  the 

ished  at  the  new>.      Lun^  l)"fori'  the    puliliiati.m  ('hnr.h  and  of  its  uni\rrsal  tra.lilion,  di.I  not  fail 

of  his  V(diiiniu<ius -writings,  tin  ii' eonK'utsha\ing  to  .seiliue  tlu'  unslahle,    the    ign.nant.    ami    tho.s.' 

heen  ma.le  known,  till'  Archl.isliops  of   Westinin-  to.^se.l  by  th  ■   v,  in.l  of  th.-    anarehi.al    and  social 

ster  anil  .M'.ilines  wruti' th.ir  mandates  on  the  Ton-  ideas  wlii.li    agitate  the    w.iil.l.      It  was  the  t'or- 

tifieal  infallibility,  in  order  to  put  on  111. 'ir  guard  niula  of   so-called    liberal    L'atholieisiu,    which  is 

the  faithful  of  tlieir  dioceses  and  to  counteract  as  bat  a  masked    transition  to  Protestant  ism,    or  to 

lunch  as  iTossible  the  bad  effects  that  th.' publiea-  nal  ional  churches,    undi'i-  th.;    supremacy    of  the 

tion  of  the  nforesaid  works  might  produce,  which  State.      That  system  wa.s  praised,  propagate.l  aiul 

took  plaep  some  months  before  tlu'  op.  ningof  the  supported,    not  only  l)y    the  impious  an.l  Vevolu- 

Vatican  Council.  tiunary,  but  also  by  thi-  ml.ldle  or    scmi-t^'utholic 

The  two  Volumes  of  Bishop  Claret,  full  of  con-  press,    preiending    Ui  con.iliat.'    the  t'atholic;  af- 

tradietions,    a.s    evidently    pr.>\ed    by    th.'    llev.  firuiatiou  with  tin-  humiliation  and  denial  of  tin- 


r.r--*.^','^iai 


■ll~ —  " ^=~ 


w^mi 


I'liiiii.  V.  \\)\u-h  Mi';v  wiiM  -nil  flic  ><lt  uf  III  ■ 
riiiirih, 

Tllil    llll|l|lMIH   lllic'fllli     llf  fM-l||ll|l    Mill'l't    Iltlll     l)|'. 

|)irlliii;xi'i' li.'iil  ulri'iuly  kiiiiljiil  u  ijfri'ut  riinilujjrii- 
tidii  ill  till'  wiiilt  (if  Jiiiiny  ill  tin'  ('iiiliiillr  woiM 
nf  l'',iini|ii',  wlifii,  iiliij*!  till' 1i  iiriifil  mill  illii-itriniii 
Hi«h'.]i  ipf  OrlcMiiM,  fiiriiii'ily  ii  Htimi'/  iiml  Miliant 
rlriiii|iiciii  llf  Mil' ( 'Jnirili  iniil  I'lipmy,  iiiiin'  fm- 
«:iril.  iini'Xpictfilly,  tu  iiiirii-ic  tlir  iiii'culiiiry 
lliiini's  liy  liiw  fiiiiiuiM '(/).v/'//''^^/(;/),'(,  mliliTMHiil  tu  lii- 
cli'rjry,  nil  till'  I  lili  llf  NnvfiiitiiT,  l'^7l>,  liiil  wliiili, 
(I  loii)^  tinii'lHf'iiii  ,  111'  lial  VI  ry  artfully  pri  |iiniil, 
tniiislutcil  ill  til.'  illlfi  ri'iit  laii.;iiii'^'i'>»  llf  llir  nM 
mill  iii'W  wurlil,  iiul  scut  tn  till'  niiliipjm  iM'fiiri' 
tlii'V  liiiil  lift  tli'ir  Si  IS  fur  tln'  (I!iiiiiiiiii';il  ( 'inin- 
i'il.  W'liiiM  till  Mill  tliat  noil'- llf  tlii'ir  (Mi|iiiM  liml 
i-i>iii'lii'il  till'  (li-itmit  rilmi'i's  of  our  liii|i|iy  liiinl 
fur  till' I  iiiil  iiiiiatiiui  of  till'  pi'rfi^'t,  ainl  K^lnrinUM 
iiiiiiiii  ipf  ill  I'nlatiH  oti  tlir  M'niat  ([iicHtiiiii  uf  tin' 
I'u|ial  iiifnlllliilii  V  !  Hi><liii|i  l)ii]imiliiii|i,  iu  ml- 
ilr('M>*iii/ liiiiimlf  t(i  till-  iHiiiiilaf  |)as'<ii>ii  .,  til  Mil' 
.-<i'iisiliility  mill  aiixinii'^  siisjiii'liiiiH  of  stati'^'tiii'ii, 
jirovoki'il  till'  liriitjl  violiiii'i'  of  IIh'  iiia-'-^cn  (iiiil 
till'  >'l<illfiil  tyiaiiiiy  of  llii'  si'riilar  arm  iiLrain><t 
till'  Holy  Sic  mill  till'  aii:rilMt  a><'ii'iiilily  nf  (In 
Cuiiiiril.  HIm  tlniiii'  wa-*  tli  ■  iiiuiiiiortiiiiity  "f  (i 
Ciiiuilinry  (li'lhiitioii  of  tlir  I'ontiliral  infnlliliili- 
ty  ;  liiit  iimliT  tliat  ilisunii''  Iw  really  iii'''ii'1'il 
riitiilmttiii'f  iiifalliliilitv  itMclf,  ;w  lir  strnii 'Iv  iliil 
tiftcrwarilM.  His  rfusuii.-*  lunl  iiruiiiin'iits  wi'fi' 
iiiori'  H|i('('iiiii'j   aii:l   faliii'ioii"  tliim   real  uiul  triii'. 

Ill  till'  t'ai t  till'  llaiiii'  iii\ailir.;<  our  lioly  In  lii'f, 

lu'  WDiiM  liavc  iiM  I'l'iiiain  i|iiipt,  wi'li  I'rnsiiil 
ariiiM.  Uinli  r  tlii'  frivoloiw  pritrxt  of  not  otfrinl- 
iii;^,  liy  a  /"  "■  '/'>/)//(/ (.';  till'  lilii'i'al  ('allmlii'  jiavty, 
the  licl'i'tirH,  till'  srliisiiiatii's  aii-l  I'vni  tin-  iiifl- 
ili'ls,  he  wuulil  uoi  hi'sitiiti'  to  lot  till-  tlaiiii's  iii- 
(iri'iwi?  iinil  thus  i'X|ios.i  tli  '  ('Imrrli  to  yrt  j^'rcatrr 
dmiK-ers. 

Siirli  was  tlio  stale  of  ( Jallii'auisiii  mil  tlp'  dis- 
[losit  ion  of  its  alii'ttors  lirfovi-  tlif  ojM'iiiii;^  of  tin- 
CuUlKul.  AftiT  it  was  opiii'il,  many  of  tin-  von- 
(jralilc  FatliiTs  joiiu'il  tlii'  T'islio[)  of  Orleans  in 
liis  tlii'iiii'  of  til"  iiioinMirtiiiiity.  As  a  spirit  of 
ili'.isioii  was  j)!rvailiii'_;'  tin'  r[iisi'opal  hmly  ami 
till'  nii'iiilHrs  of  till'  I'ler;;}',  to  tlio  1,'ri'at  srainlal 
(if  till'  faithful,  aii'l  tlirrr  was  no  other  reineily  to 
put  it  down  Init  a  deeisiou  upon  the  jierplexeil 
liiiestioii,  ii  jiostulatuin  was  sigiioil  hy  a  large 
iiumlier  of  Fatlii.'rs,  h('o;';i;ing  the  nojjnmtie  Dispu- 
tation to  hriiig  it  without  delay  li"fore  the  Coiiii- 
eil.  A  eounter  postiilatiim  of  Hie  inopportunists 
was  also  sitrned  and  sent  to  thelloly  Father. 
And  six  mouths  aft I'r  the  Coiineil  hadljeen  ojjeni'd 
fhv  Ki'/i<  i>h(  iii  tlu'  rriniaev  and  the  iufalliljilitv 


of  til  •  I'lilf  wat  ,it   l.i'<t  iuModiii"  ■!  ill  lie   •  ■.iiiliell 
for  dl^ciiMliiu.  'on  th"  li'.ili  of  May,  A.  I>.   |s;o. 
It  leiuaiiied   iiinli'i'  ililiate   for  over  two  iiinutlis, 
diiriii^r  uliiili   tiiiH    a  d' III;/!' of  mioiiyiiioiiH  piiin- 

pIlletM.    full   of    sophiHMI^threittn    IIM'l    »hll|i|er*,    ill- 

undated  tile  Father-;  hut  fie  y  w-v  all  \  ie- 
torioiHly  refuted. 

The  tlliini'  of  the  (  iallieallN  heillK  ""h  ly  Mill  ol 

the  iiio[i|Kirt  unity,  it  was  uaiiii'.illy  r^p.  it.  il  thii' 
'his,  their  rampart ,  lieiiii.'  oiii'i'  fnreeil  tiny  would 
all  iiiimeili'iti  ly  join  with  the  opporlmii->ts :  Init 
no  sill  li  thiii'.^  liap|ii'ind,  tor  tiny  \Nii'i  not  only 
-iieli  stroll','  ino|  poi'tiiui-'s,  Imt  siuli  stroii^'  (ial- 
lieaiM,  that  diiriu;,'  the  tliii'ly-s,-\  I'li  (iiiii-ral  Con 
tfi'e'j'atious,  and  especially  diiriii'.^  thetii-l  tifliiii, 
ill  diseiissiii(/  the  Lfeueral  fi'dtures  and  iin  ril« 
of  the  y/ii  III'',  they  never  (^ca.sed  to  oji|Mise  if  ulid 
to  iMirry  out  their  opjHisition  iis  far  as  they  could, 
liy    repeatin^f    over    ainl    ovei'    a^'aiii     llnir     lijs- 

toi'ieal    facts    mid    tlnir   artriiiiieiits  to   tl ItVet 

of  pioviiij;  that  the  Pontithal  iiifalliliilily  eonll 
111'  proved  neither  liy  Seripture  nm  Ky  ( iein  la  1 
Coiiucils  mid  tradition. 

Thi»s(' e'roundli'HM  assertions  wen;  sti'oii;,'ly  n- 
fufi.'d  anil  the  opposite  truths  vietorionsly  proved 
hy  many  orators.  For  your  satist.e  lion,  lirloM  il 
lii'i'threii.  We  intend  ^fiviu;,''  you  a  sliorl  speeinieii 
of  some  of  the  ar;;;uiniuts  an  1  proofs  so  lieuiiMfiill,\ 
detailed  li 'fore  the  ('oiliieil  liy  many  Iiarned  and 
elopc'ii^  l'\ith  rs,  lh.it  you  may  have  an  idea  of 
the  ;<roiinil  on  which  lli  '  so  Ion..;  contested  do'^jniii 
l'e]poses,  heillg  fiillllded  on  Sil'ipl  ill'',  tiadiiion 
and  'liinral  Coiineils.  This  we  will  aceompli'h 
when  we  have  done  with  the  present  siiliject.  It 
was  oil  th''  '2d  of  .Inly,  a  day  dedicated  to  the  de- 
votion of  fh-  Inimaeiilate  Virgin  Mary,  that 
some  oil  eaidl  side  of  the  ijucstioii  lie;^aii  to  ii- 
nouiiee  their  riL^lit  of  sp'  akinuf.  Two  days  after, 
diiriuL,'  the  octave  of  the  fi  ast  of  St.  I'cterand  St. 
Paul,  the  rest  of  the  Fathers  ffave  up  speakinjr 
This  ^reat  [wiint  ohtained,  there  reiiiaini'd  noth- 
in^r  to  do  lint  to  vote  on  tin  nieudinents  ottered 
hy  the  orators.  This  was  a  very  tritlUu;^  Iliiii'.^' ; 
the  threat  piint  luiiiy  i^'aiiied,  the  victory  wa-- 
siire.  Tt  was  the  fruit  of  niiich  patience  and  per- 
se vi'i-eiice  duriiiLi,'  the  loiii,'  and  tedious  siltiii<<s  of 
thirty-seviai  (ieneral  l'ony:ref.fati(ms,  in  which  ITT 
Fathers  wore  heard.  But  that  viittiiry  was 
;jrainod,  ahove  all,  hy  the  fervent  prayers  made 
for  the  r'ouiicil  all  over  the  (^atholic  world,  and 
hy  those  niiuh'  in  a  special  manner  every  day  at 
Rome.  A(hl  to  these  numbe'rlos.s  Hupplications 
the  nnmerous  fervent  piihlic  prayers  made  diirinij' 
the  octavo  ot  Pentaeost,  liy  the  order  of  the  Ifoly 
Fathi'iS  and  yon  »\ill  have  an  idea  of  the  holy  siiji- 


-.J!i3i     hfci. 


I^|»M  %■    111 


jili(:itiuu<  iiii((lc  III  lli'M  Veil  ill  t'liviiiMit  llu' i.'oiiiifil.  iiirtli,  Wiis  iiltiisid  to  txiila'ii  ;ni(l  iifHi'iii  it  ill 
Am  to  till-  trill' Mtrt'iifftli  of  tlie  inajnritj' ami  tlie  diffcrfiit-  tiirics.  Of  all  llic  'nitlisof  t]u^(J()s- 
iiiiiKii  ity,  it  waH  irailo  kuuwii  tor  tlic  fiiHt  jii'l,  tliiri'  i'^  luil  one  jmlili-^luil  and  a^srrd'd  witli 
t  i  II II '.  ill  till  vol  in  j;  on  I  lie  wliolcv  /(( //cr  on  tlii'  llltli  tlir  same  iiiHcision  and  iirrsislrin  r  and  tlir  likf  sol- 
id' Tilly,  ill  wliicli  I  lie  tiiinilHT  of  voti  r,s  bciii;,'  (iOl,  ui  unity  and  sidciidor  :  it  is  ilia!  of  t  lie  institntioii 
tli>ir  wcri'  ^iM'ti  151  aHinnativc  votes,  SS  ni'iia-  of  lliflioly  Kudiari.st;  licraiisi',  ariordin;^' toanein- 
tivc  i  nd  ()'2  conditional  on<'s;  tlnsc  last  W'Tf  incut  jiridatr,  of  tlic  two,  one  coiistitnti's  tlic  lii'ad 
mostly  (ill  for  a  more  .s*rin;;cnt  dctiiiition,  and  and  the  other  tlic  heart  of  lli.' (  hiirch.  Tlio  word 
consc  jiifiitly  in  favor  of  tin-  majority.  Hnt  il  infallililc,  it  is  Iriir,  is  not  found  in  the  (iospd; 
was  only  in  the  fourth  jmhlii!  session,  lield  on  but  it  matters  not,  doctrinally,  if  tln' eqiiivalent 
Moudiiy,  the  l^th  of  .Inly,  that,  tin?  rather  too  is  found  in  it.  And,  indeo.l,  who  can  read  tho 
lonic  vexed  niit-st.ion  of  t  rallicanism  was  at  lust  funr  fj^reat  word.s  addrossed  hy  our  iSavionr  to  Pc- 
ser"'led  and  fixed  forever  hy  the  votes  yiven  on  tor,  directly  and  individually,  and  not  seo  tho 
tliat  day  and  tin,' eoiiHrimition  of  the  I'ope.  ]\IaJiy  infallibility  overllowin^' iiiion  liim  from  tho  liut- 
of  the  l'"alhers  liiid  gone  home  for  various  reasons  ;  torn  of  the  Divine  words  with  a  sniMTabiindaiit 
a  cerfain  number  of  ojiiKjuents  had  abandoned  splendor^''  What  eonld  .Tphiis  (.'hrist  luive  said 
their  o(pjKisIiion  ;  thtMit hers  were  absent,  and  tin  more  formal,  more  ^ilaiii  and  more  impressive, 
number  of  votes  Wits  only  ''loo.  They  all  eavi  siipiaisin^  lie  really  intended  to  confer  to  His 
tlhir  vote  .  for  the  dogmatie,  eoiiMtitntion  just  read  Vicar  uid  successois  the  jirerogatives  of  iijfalli- 
io   them,   save    two,    who  gave  a  negative   vote,    bility';' 

And  the  Holy  Fiither  having  given  his  sanction.  Our  Blessed  Saviour  had  prcxioiisly  said  [St. 
there  ln'gan  a  tlinnder  of  jindonged  applauses  .Matt.  T.  '-2I.]  that  the  wise  man  builds  Iuh  houHO 
4  among  the  multitude  tilling  tlie  nave  of  the  great  upon  a  rock.  He  was  Himself  the  wisilom  of 
I'liilding,  at  the  same  time  Heaven  applauded  tho  (iud  who  came  down  from  Heaven  to  build  a 
decision  with  peals  of  tlinnder.  hon.se,    to    found    a    city    and    to    establish    a 

From  what  I  have  said  and  what  you  have  kingdom  here  njioii  earth  wliich  should  Ixj 
beard  of  (iallieanism,  beloved  brethren,  j'oii  may  forever  victorious  over  all  the  powers  of 
easily  eoniliide  and  .see  how  deejily  rooted,  in  lull,  and  should  last  until  the  end  of 
many  parts  of  Kiirope,  was  that  si-et,  and  how  time.  And  in  order  t<j  show  how  He  intended  to 
dangerouH  to  the  welfan;  of  the  ("hureh  were  its  Imild,  He  said  to  Simon  :  "Thou  art  Simon,  the 
aspirations  and  tendencies,  ami  consequently  how  M)n  of  Jonas ;  thmi  shalt  be  culled  ( 'ephas,'"  I'e- 
iii'gent  the  decision  to  break  it  down  ati'l  jiut  an  r,.)-,  or  rock,  [St.  John  1.  4'.'.  When,  therefore, 
end  forever  to  its  disastions  jilaiis.  Von  may  tlu'  time  of  building  arrived,  lie  said  :  "Thou 
also  eoneeive  the  great  danger  tlieri' is  for  Catlio-  ;,,-t,  J'eti'r,  and  noon  tliis  rock  [  will  build  my 
lies,  and  even  for  learned  and  venerable  Trehites,  ( 'hureh,  and  the  gates  of  lull  sb.ill  not  pn  vail 
long  esteemed  and  loved,  to  recede  from  the  tra-  against  it  [St.  .Mart.  10.  1^.  These  are  i lie  first 
ditional  doctrine  and  walk  in  a  path  unknown  to  piddigio. IS  words  of  our  S^i  viour  to  I'eter,  and 
anti-inlty.  Join  witli  us  in  thanksgiving  to  (!od,  what  are  we  taught  by  them  r  That  it  wasuiion 
beloved  liretbren,  for  having  inspired  and  given  J'eter  and  upon  no  other  that  lie  would  Imild; 
us  to  sign  early  the  postulatuiii  of  the  oiiportnni-  that  Peter  should  be  tin'  base  of  his  editiei  —  a 
ty,  to  vote  on  all  occasions  for  the  Papal  infalli-  sidid  rock  -and  because  in  tliat  buihling,  where 
bilit),  oven  in  giving,  on  the  \M]i  lA  July,  our  the  stones  are  the  .souls,  all  is  bearing  on  faith, 
conditional  vot',  because  it  was  intended  to  make  }!,.  would  give  him  a  word  which  could  not,  fail, 
the  detinition  more  stringent.  j,  faith  so  immovable  that  the  gates  of  hell  could 

L"t  us  now  listen  to  the  voice  of  tlictiosind  not  shake  it.  Now,  we  ask  every  .sensible  man, 
founding  the  authority  of  Peter,  of  tlie  Ohureh  eonld  our  Saviour  say  nnue  eh-arly  and  more  ex- 
proelaimiug  thi' authority  of  Peter  and  of  tradi-  priHsively  that  tlie  faith  or  I'eter  shoiiM  never 
tion  showing  us,  in  exerciHO,  the  authority  of  Pe-  faiiv 

ter,  in  order  to  prove  to  the  (iallieans  that  the  'l]^^,  ^t'cond  prodigious  words  our  Blessed  Sa- 
I'ontitical  infallibility  is  really  founded  •  iijion  vionr  addressed  to  Peter  alone  are  the  following  : 
Scripture,  tienerul  Coiiiudls  and  tradition.  ..j   will  give  to  thee  the  keys  of    the  kingdom  of 

The  Pontifieal  infallibility  is  proved  by  Scrip-  Jleaveii.  And,  whatsoever  thou  shalt  bind  iiiKin 
ture.  Our  Bh'ssed  Saviour,  foreseeing  the  eiui-  fuvlh,  it,  shall  be  bound  also  in  Heavin;  and 
tradietions,  objections  and  dittieulties  that  the  whatsoever  thou  shalt  lose  on  earth,  it  shall  be 
infalliDility  of  His  Vii-ar  would  meet  with  u)Xin  loosed  iilso  in  Heaven."  [St.  ^falt.  10.  111.'  Now 
,  •/  '  -'  '  '' 


;A 


/' 


rr 


111(1 


9 

Mli'iivPii?  It  in  tnitli.  Thcvifuro,  since  PiMur  hiiH  Aud  why  iloos  our  Lord  UNk  tr..iii  his  Wi-ciplc 
in  hiH  hiiuds  th(.' ktyH  of  tho  kiiigihiiii  of  llciivcii,  this  triph'  prok'statiim  «f  hive  r  Hirausc  lli- 
hv  will  bear  on  liis  lips  th(>  words  of  truth.  Ami  wauls  to  '^ive  him  the  supreme  fum  lion  of  uni- 
wliat  binds  Houls  iiud  k(M'ps  them  in  servitude!'  versiil  j)ast()r ;  tin!  fiinetion  of  feeding?  not  only 
It  is  error,  iind  witli  it  sin.  What  unloeks  tho  the  himbs,  represeutiii'jr  the  Honk  of  the  faithful, 
Moulr'  It  is  truth,  and  with  it  sanctity.  Tlit-ro-  but  the  sheep  also;  the  sheep,  which,  aiMurding 
,.  fore,  invested  with  tlie  iiowcr  of  binding'  and  to  all  the  interpreters,  represent  the  conductors 
/^/A<loO'<iug,  hi;  .shall  have  the  right  to  say,  "See  the  of  the  lambs—"  feed  my  lambs,  feed  my  sheep."' 
<;rror  that  holds  the  soul  captive;  s<!e  here  tlie  Thus  nothing  can  i)e  expressed  (dearer  in  the  ( Jos- 
truth  wliich  makes  the  soul  tree.  Now,  b.luved  i)el :  Peter  reci'ives  from  Christ,  as  a  reward  of 
brethren,  comprehend  in  St.  I'uter  this  magnifi-  his  love,  the  universal  pastorate.  To  liiiii  the 
cent  character  of  h<dding  in  his  hands  thi?  keys  charge  oi  conducting  all  the  faithful  with  all 
of  Heaven  and  of  binding  aud  loosing  the  s  )uls,  their  immediate  pastors,  the  Bishops  and  priests, 
without  acknowledging  in  him  the  indefectibility  to  the  true  pastures,  where  sucli  shall  Iind  th'i 
in  teaching.  How  shall  you  be  able  to  arrive  food  to  feed  them  and  the  truo  springs  where 
at  itr'  they  shall  draw    water    to   water  them.     Such  is 

Lot  us  now  pas.s  to  another  text  more  explicit,  t^'«  *"'^'  "i''''»i"K  "f  t^'*'  "^^ords  of  Christ.  Can  it 
a  clearer  oracle  on  the  thi-  doctrinal  infallibility  ''^'  t^^nc-ived  henceforth  that  the  Hupveme  pastor 
of  Peter,  and  ponder  on  the  third  prodigious  '^""l*^  himself  invite  all  his  Hock  to  the  pastures 
word%  addressed  by  Christ  to  Peter,  in  presence  oi  "^  ''"''^i'  '""^  *"  ^'^^'^  fountain  of  falsehoods  No,  it 
the  other  Apo.stles,  at  the  la.st  supper,  as  follows  :  '"H'li'^f'- 

"Simon,  Simon;  behold  Satau  hath  desired  ti)  In  view  of  these  four  prodigious  words  addresseil 
have  you,  that  he  may  sift  you  as  wheat;  but  I  have  to  Peter  in  person,  by  the  Divine  founder  of  the 
prayed  for  thee  that  thy  faith  fail  not;  and  thou,  Clnirch,  and  in  presence  of  tlie  persistence  which 
being  once  converted,  ct.nfirm  thy  Divthreu."  delays  in  conferring  on  him  a  i)o\vvr  ,>r"/H  r, 
[St.  Luke,  22.  HI.  32.]  As  if  he  would  say  :  Si-  t.vcepimial,  unufrsHl  and  ."'tjin  nu,  one  is  found 
mon,  a  weak  man  as  thou  art,  Satan  will  try  to  *«  ask  himself  without  being  able  tt.  answer : 
sift  thee  and  thy  brethren  as  wlieat ;  but  \  fear  "What  did  J(^sus  Christ  pretend  to  give  Peter  if 
not,  T  want  thee  to  be  the  support  aud  and  strong  ^"'  l»'^s  not  given  him,  as  the  foundation  and 
holding  of  all.  And  I,  God,  who  cannot  put  con-  chief  of  the  Church,  infallible  power  in  matt..rs 
tradiction  in  my  word,  I  will  that  thou  never  be  cuueeruing  the  Church." 

shaken  in  thy  faith.  Hence  it  i.s  I  have  prayed  But,  said  the  opponi'iits  in  the  holy  iissembly — 
for  thee  aud  have  obtained  that  ^/(,y/WiY/t  .v/^i^//  and  this  they  repeated  <jver  and  over  again:  It 
never  /(til ;  aud  uot  only  I  will  not  that  thy  was  to  all  of  the  Apostles  united  that  Jesus  C'hrist 
faith  fail,  but  I  also  will  that  it  prevents  the  addressed  these  not  less  solemn  words:  "AH 
t'aith  of  others  to  fail ;  I  will  that  thou  confiriuest  power  is  giv(>n  to  me  in  Heaven  and  on  earth; 
thy  brethren  ;  I  will  that  the  firmne8,s  of  thy  go  ye,  therefore,  teach  all  nations,  and  behold 
faith  be  communicated  to  my  Church  ;  I  will  I  am  with  you  all  days,  even  to  the  (Mmsumma- 
thatthoufillestmy  whole  Church  with  the  infrlli-  tion  of  the  world."  [St.  Matt.,  2S.  IS.  l!(.j  It 
bility  I  give  to  thee  ;  that  from  the  head  which  is  true  that  these  solemn  words  were  addressed  to 
thou  art  thyself,  thou  makest  it  descend  into  the  all  of  the  Apostles;  and  lujbody  denies  the  ^wwer 
whole  body.  CoufirHi  thy  brethren,  for  ray  idea,  and  infallibility  pn)iuised  by  these  words  to  the 
my  plan,  is  uot  that  thy  brethren  confirm  whole  body  of  the  pastors,  charged  to  trcach  the 
thee,  biit  that  thou  confirmest  thy  brethren,  whole  earth.  But  mark  this:  between  what  Je- 
Such  is  the  meaning  of  the  words  of  Christ,  by  bus  Christ  gives  here  to  all,  and  what,  he  had 
which  it  is  not  difficult  to  understand  that  the  previously  and  solely  given  to  out;  only,  thiTO 
doctrine  which  makes  the  infallibility  of  the  Pon-  must  be  a  perfect  accord,  a  (complete  harmony,  a(!- 
tiff  depend  upon  the  confirmation  of  the  episcopate,  cording  to  the  beautiful  saying  of  Bossuet :  "  The 
turns  over  the  evangelical  formula,  and  that  in-  end  does  uot  destroy  tlie  beginjung."  Therefore, 
stead  of  Peter  confirming  liis  brethren,  these  are  when  we  siiy  :  Jesus  Christ  .sends  to  teach  all 
the  ones  who  must  confirm  Peter.  creatures   the   holy   Church,  represented   by  the 

In  fine,  our  Blessed  Saviour,  in  one  of  his  man-  Apostles,  we  must  understand  the  Church  to  be 
ifestations,  asks  Peter  three  times  the  great  testi-  such  as  he  has  founded,  that  is,  the  Chiu-ch  built 
mony  of .  hia  love  :  "Simon,  son  of  John,  lovest  upon  Peter;  the  Church,  the  assf  mbly  of  all  the 
thou  me  more  thau    these?"     [St.  John,  21.  15.]  faithful  whose  faith    is   being    ccmfirmed    by  the 


fC/'-^     *'^  ^  U'^1     c^^<^'V  f7  i^-rr  /     ear  //i 


-/(^(C*ri 


9 


/, 


ho  '^      \7(/^'  -tV/.f^  /    tr'\  ^^l-V 


-.'ij^i! 


10 


words  1,1'  ]',•■  [•;  \]\i'  ('Imrcli,  tlir  kiiij^dniii  of 
H'livcii  wlio-;  ■  k'l  yM  I'rtrr  ciiri'lfH  iih  a  xi^^ii  of  sii- 
])ri'7ii"  iiiillioilt y  ;  tlir  Chiircli,  tliiit  is,  iill  tlic 
Hock  of  hniilis  anil  kJi'M'Ji,  callrd  to  walk  under 
thr  siip'Tvi :<ioii  of  oui'  sole  |):istor  ;  the  Cliiircli  in 
ii  woid,  inv.stiMl,  in  its  union  witli  its  I'hicf,  witli 
the  infallil>ilit y  dii'f'i'tly  and  pri'sonally  ^ivcn  to 
its  clii-f  liiiriHidf.  Kvidcntly,  thi-n'foru,  l)C'twfi'u 
wlutt  is  (M)iuniuuicati'd  at  first  to  Pctor  iilouo,  coii- 
stituti'd  the  base  of  the  I'difii.'c,  us  <diicf  of  tlio 
living-  liod}-  its;df — that  is,  tho  f'hiircdi  uiiitod  to 
its  chief  already  I'onstituted  and  aUviuIy  invested 
of  }ris  own  oMinipotcnee — there  can  be  no  contra- 
diction. Theriifore,  Bossnet's  saying  is  correct: 
"The  end  does  not  deHtroy  thohegianing."  And 
the  lieginning  is  Peter,  constituted  as  thi."  biise 
and  sunmiit  of  the  C'hnrch,  as  the  chief  and  su- 
pri>nie  pastoi'. 

The  i'ontitical  infalli1)ility  is  also  jirovcd  hy 
till'  infallible  authority  of  (jleneral  t'oniicils,  in- 
tcrpri'ting  the  word  of  Josns  Christ  and  procdaiin- 
ing  the  traditional  titles  I'verywhcre  and  always 
acknowledged  in  ourPouMff.  Tli is  second  author- 
ity the  Callicans  have  pretended  to  reduce  to 
nothing,  by  boldly  asserting  that,  in  tho  Coun- 
cils, no  title  had  over  been  given  to  the  chief  of 
tlieChureh  which  might  authorize  the  positive 
belief  to  his  infallibility.  The  answer  is,  that 
although  a  dogmatic  foririnla  be  not  yet  contained 
t'xjjlicitly  in  the  decrees  of  any  Conucil,  nevurthe- 
less,  that  formnla  can  be  dedncted  theologically 
and  solemnly  consecrated  by  anotlier  Council. 
Hen(^e  it  is  easj'  to  comprehi^nd  how,  when  there 
18  a  (jnestion  of  the  [)rerogatives  inherent  to  the 
Sovon^ign  Pontificate,  a  ])osterior  Co\inciI  can 
givi'  a  formula  explicit  of  anotlier  attriljuto  al- 
ready implicitly  ineluded  in  foriuidas  consecrated 
by  previous  Council-.  In  this  case,  the  do(^trine 
does  not  (diange ;  it  is  not  invented  ;  it  only  de- 
velops and  shows  its'df,  however  ancient  it  be,  in 
a  new  forinula.  Such  are  the  dogmati<;  fonnnlas 
a(xdaiined  by  the  two  great  O'^eumenieal  Councils 
of  Lyons  in  X'i'iA,  and  Florence  in  \\',i^. 

Among  the  foi'mulas  of  Creneral  Council,  Ave 
we  pr-fer  that  of  Flonnice,  Viecansc?  it  de- 
fines ill  the  p.'aiuest  manner  the  principal  pre- 
rogativi's  of  th'  Sovereign  Poi'  +  ificate.  Listtm 
then,  b(doved  brethiin,  to  the  great  Cathidic 
voict'  affirming  wit>i  a  solemnity  and  brightness 
which  could  hardly  be  surpassed,  the  infallible 
authority  of  our  Pontiffs ;  "We  define  that  the 
Roman  Pontiff  is  the  successor  of  blessed  Peter, 
Prine,(>  of  the  Apostles,  and  the  true  Vicar  of  Je- 
sus Christ,  the  (!luef  the  whole  Church,  the  father 
and  doctor  of  a'l  (diristians.    And  we  declare  that 


to  him,  in  the  lil.ssed  Peter,  has  been  given  bv 
Jesus ('lirist  our  T-ord,  tlw  full  power  to  feed,  rub- 
and  govern  the  I'niversal  Church."  Such  is  thi' 
solemn  decrei'  of  (he  (Jenei'al  Couin'il  of  Florenije. 
.\Hsurcdly,  no  more  than  in  the  ( Josjud,  is  tho  Pon- 
tifical infallibility  found  here  in  its  ex])licit  for- 
mida;  l)ut  liere  also  wi;  will  say:  All!  what 
matter  is  it  if  its  ei(nivalent  presi'nts  itsidf  with 
spleiulori'  Tt  is,  therefoi'e,  no  wonder  that  from 
these  niagnificiuit  titles,  consecrated  by  an  infalli- 
ble authority,  the  Catholic  theology  and  univer- 
sal sense  of  the  Catludic.s  should  have  (h'llucted 
the  Papal   infallibility  itself. 

And  the  conclusion  is  very  obvious;  for,  _/?/'.si', 
if  the  Ronuiu  Pontiff  be  truly  the  J'ictir  of  Jexiiit 
Clirint,  constituted  bj'  Jesus  ('hi-ist  Himself  to 
the  government  of  His  Churcli,  thenceforth,  in 
tho  sphere  where  thfi  Pontiff  is  constituted  Vicar, 
the  powi'rof  Jesus  Christ  becomes  his  jiower,  with 
the  diff'erence  that  in  Jesus  Christ  it  is  a  proper 
and  native  power,  whilst  in  His  Vicar  it  is  a  deli^- 
gated  and  eonimuniirated  power.  Witli  regard  to 
tlu^  power  of  governing,  Peter  is  not  only  another 
Christ,  but  he  is  Christ  Himself.  The  coiudusion 
of  this  is,  that  one  must  choose  between  these 
two,  or  to  di'iiy  that  the  Pope  is,  in  the  full  sense 
of  the  word,  the  Vii^ar  of  Jesus  Christ ;  or  to  ad- 
mit that,  lu)  more  than  Christ  Himself,  he  can 
err  in  defining  doctrines  and  teaching  truth. 

tScroiid,  If  the  Koman  Pontiff'  be  th(>  miprcnw 
fhicf  of  tin;  whole  ClivrrJi,  then  he  is  to  the  Church 
what  tho  head  is  to  the  body — chief  to  direct, 
chief  to  Avatch,  chief  to  govern  and  <'.onsi"iuently 
infallildi'  chief;  never  able,  (!ven  once,  to  put 
error  in  his  Avord  Avithont  failing  in  his  e.ss(>ntial 
function  to  guide  and  preserve  thi' body  all  entire. 

Tliiril,  If  tlu>  UoTuan  PouKtt'be  tlie  xiiiri  rxdl 
dor!'^r  of  thr  Vhuri'h,  therefore,  as  such,  he  repre- 
sents the  authority  of  Him  Avho  saiil  of  Hims.ilf ; 
"I  am  the  truth.  You  have  but  one  master,  and 
that  master,  it  is  T. "  Assuredly  he  constitutes, 
Avith  the  Bishops,  a  teaching  body,  and  us  a  col- 
lege of  doctors  to  Avhom  our  Lord  .said :  "Go  and 
be  the  masters  of  the  doctrine;  go  and  be  the 
doctors  of  the  world."  Yes,  but  in  the  centre  and 
at  tlu'  summit  of  that  teaching  body,  there  is  the 
great  Master,  the  great  officer,  the  great  depository 
of  the  truth  and  the  grand  preserver  of  the  faith  ; 
in  a  Avord,  according  to  the  text,  the  doctor  of  idl 
Christtiins. 

Fourth,  If  Peter,  in  the  Church  of  Cod,  be  the 
Uii/ri'ru'd  jKOitor  ui  the  lambs  and  sheep,  of  the 
faithful  and  Bishops,  according  toBossuet's  beau- 
tiful saying,  "pastors  l>eft)rt>  the  faithful  and 
sluM'p   before   the  jiastor  of   pastors,"  it   follows. 


n 


the  re  to  re,  tliiil  there  is  Imu  mn'  llo(  k  ;iii.l  unr  \W\- 
Wo  iiiid  iiivisihh-  riiHtxjr.  N'uw,  iirconliujj  tu  the 
Floroiitiii"'  (h»y:iiili,  th<;  Utniiiin  I'uiititt'  im  thiit  soh' 
iiiid  universal  iiiiHtor ;  therefore,  this  beiiiji' a  (h- 
fiiied  doy'iiiii,  the  j^uoil  Ciitliolie.  sensL',  to'j;ethor 
with  tiie  good  jioptihir  senses,  liiive  a  ri;?ht  to  de- 
eide  ii);iiinst  tlie  (iiillieiiu  doctrine,  thiit  it  is 
not  tor  the  sheep  to  gnide  th(>  pastor,  hut 
ratlic  r  for  the  pastoi'  to  miich'  tlie  itoi'k  in  the  Wiiy 
of  truth  and  life. 

J'\fl/i,  What  is,  in  t}ie(  liuivli,  tlir  IJonian  i'on- 
titt",  tlio  successor  of  St.  I'eti  r'r  Let  us  hear  ai^ain, 
Im  loved  t)rethreii,  tlie  g'reat  \oiee  of  the  (I'jiinien- 
iual  (,'ouueil.  He  is  ucjt  only  the  Viriir  i>f  .fi,si!K 
('hri.v,  the  ihictur  nf  t/w  irorl'/,  \\\t-  ihiif  nf  tin 
C'/lKir/i  and  the  iiit:(or  of  khhI",  hut  hr  has  still  a 
title  nioi'e  jiiovinn'  and  more  sij;;nitie;iut  of  his 
Hoverein'ii  infiillihility,  for  the  holy  (Jouneil  calls 
him  I'lilhe!- — Father  of  ( 'atlioli<ify,  Fii'Jnr  »f  <iU 
rliriKti(iii:i.  O,  oui'  FaHier!  ( >,  lioly  h'ather  1 
Yes,  we  helieve  we  are  thy  children;  and  all 
those  who  have  a  share  in  ihe  palei'iiity  of  souls, 
hold  it  fron;  thee.  O,  Father,  truly  nnivcr.sill 
No  one,  in  the  (,'liuveh,  without  passing  1hrou<;h 
th'»>,  h.ive  the  power  of  f;i\  ing  life,  of  which  thou 
art  the  universal  channel  for  all  places  and  all 
centuries,  t'ouocive  now,  if  you  cau,  how  such 
a  fathiT,  speaking  as  Vicar  of  Jesus  (Ihrist  to  the 
great  Catholic  family,  could  ever  fail  and  deceive 
his  children,  and  that  his  children,  \  ictinis  of  the 
aauie  erroi-,  might  try  out  to  him  from  all  places; 
"O,  Father!   thou  hast  deceived  us."" 

As  the  great  conciliary  wf)rd  contirms  the  evan- 
gelical word  concerning  the  I'ontitical  iufalliliil- 
ity,  so  also  the  public  practice  or  tradition  of  the 
Church  contirms  the  one  iind  the  other.  Ijct  us 
go  to  the  cradk  of  the  (hundi  and  we  shall  see 
there  thf;  gi-eat  tree  of  the  I  'atholic  Papacy  shoot- 
ing forth,  as  its  first  great  l)oughs,  the  Pati'i'areh- 
iites  of  Antioch,  of  Alexandria  ;  and  later,  of  Con- 
stantinople— all  receiving  from  the  same  root  the 
same  sap  and  the  same  life,  issued  fnun  the  heart 
of  Christ,  iind  passing  through  Peter,  to  he  poured 
out  jiiore  iKUiutii'uUy  throughout  the  whole  uni- 
verse. Coming  down  from  theuce  to  the  centuries 
of  tln>  great  manifestations  of  the  C'atholic  mind, 
we  meet  the  four  gnat  t]']ciiiuenical  ('ouncils  of 
Nice,  I'^/phesus,  (  onstantinople  and  (halcedon, 
having  hut  one  solemn  voice  to  pr<jclaim  the  irrc- 
fragiliility  of  the  decrees  of  Peter,  speaking  hy 
the  nujuth  of  the  Komau  Pontiffs,  thus:  "Peter 
has  spoken  hy  Agathon,"'  "  Peter  hath  spoken  hy 
the  nu)iith  of  Leo."  If  we  pass  from  thence  to 
the  middle  age,  we  meet  again  the  Papacy  in  full 
possession    of    tlu     doctrinal    sovereignty.      The 


(irc.k  siliism.  in  la'eakiug  tti-  unity  liy  nu  al 
t.mp'  of  priije  and  i.nilNtion,  liroki-  with  a  sov- 
ereignty thereunto  acknowledged  and  proclaiuu-d 
l)y  the  Hasiern  church  itself.  Disccndiug  fiu'- 
ther  down  to  the  long  course  of  chrisliau  ci  n- 
t\iries,  \'.  !■  meet  e\ery  when"  tlie  I'ontitical  sovcr- 
eignty,  -.aA  with  it  the  infallihility  llowing,  as  it 
Were,  la'inil'iill  ;  antl  save  some  rare  pi-otest;i1ion^ 
lost  in  the  great  Catholic  acclamation,  that  sov- 
ereignty anil  infalliliilily  walk  and  ojieralc  iu  the 
whole  Church   without   being  contested.       If    theii 

ai^tion  makes  less  noise  iu  ci  I'tain  centurii  s,  it  i< 
prccist'ly  l)ecause  the  possession  is  more  peaccalile, 
that  it  walks  uiore  witliont  suscitating  on  its 
passage  the  noisy  clangor  of  contestation.  Such 
is  till'  secular  fact  of  llie  sovereign  I'oul  illcate, 
even  witii  respect  to  infalliliilily,  shining  bright 
during  the  fifteen  hundred  years,  before 
the  great  Western  schism.  Adding  to  ihese 
tra<litional  scric's  of  th'  t'liurdi,  that  of  the  three 
hundred  years  of  a  conllic  t  she  has  had  to  sustain 
against  the  vlallicMu  sect,  as  stated  in  the  bcgin- 
iug  of  this  pastoral,  we  will  have  the  conipl<.te 
link  of  her  traditional  prai-1  ice  in  fa  vor  of  the 
I'apal  infallibility,  from  the  primitive  ages  till 
the  present  tinu'. 

With  ri'gard  to  the  traditions  of  the  particuLir 
churclies,  we  will  mention  the  beautiful  manit'es- 
tations  made  in  the  Council  by  the  ISishop-;  of 
ditt'erent  j)arts  of  the  Catholic  world,  to  tc-itify  lo 
the  trailitions  of  the  i  hurcles,  of  tlu'ir  nations, 
of  their  ec(  h'siastical  provinces  and  diocesi  s. 
Thus  we  hi'ard  of  the  tradil  ions  ef  the  Ivistei'U, 
Western  and  Auu'rican  ehunhes;  of  t]iosiM)f  the 
{hnndies  of  li'.laud,  by  the  (  iirdiual  .Vrihbishipp 
of  Dublin;  of  those  of  the  (bun  lies  of  Spain  and 
of  her  old  provincis  of  Mctico,  ( 'eutral  and  South 
America  ;  of  Portugal  and  of  her  old  posessions  of 
]5ra/il,  etc.,  whose  lUshojis,  being  all  nuittd,  pro- 
claimed the  doctrine  in  ipiestion  without  a  <lis- 
si.'uting  voice.  We  were  inuth  rejoiced  hi  sieing 
the  traditions  of  these  particular  (  hurdus  sup- 
ported by  till'  decrees  of  a  number  of  national  and 
provincial  Councils,  held  in  iMirop  •,  after  the  ex- 
ample of  those  of  Baltimore.  Thus  uiiution  wa- 
made  of  foui'teen  provimdal  Councils,  hild  in 
France  since  1S41I,  sue  h  as  those  of  Paris,  Lyons. 
Bordt'aux,  Tonlou.se,  ( te.,  all  professing,  more  or 
less,  tlu'  Pajial  infallibility;  of  many  provincial 
Councils  held  in  (iermany,  naTuily  thtise  of  V'ien- 
ua,  Prague,  Cologne,  etc.,  prodaiming  the  same 
doctrine  ;  of  the  second  Plenary  Council  of  Balti- 
more, in  ]8(I(J,  not  less  sti'ung  in  its  profession 
with  regard  to  the  I'ontihcal  infallibility;  of  the 
famous  address,  presented  to  the  Ptipe  iu    1^*07  by 


.'.aiui. 


L- 


12 


ttvrv  five  Imnili'id  IIIsIkiih,  urkiiowliil;,''!!!}.;-  and 
IiilWishitl;^  t>)i'  lii>;}i  privil'';^.'  (it"  <li(  I'oiititiriil 
iiifiillihility.  Hut  tliiit  iiiMiiy  <>t'  tlif  sininTs  of 
thiit  iiddrcss  iiiid  of  tlic  ilrcfpcx  foniii'd  in  those 
Pi'ovini'iiil  ('oiukiiIm,  should  huvc  rcfu-tcd  a  ftsw 
yi'iiVH  iiftor,  to  procdiiiTii  in  thi-  (JCiMuiirniciil  ('oin>- 
inl  of  \hi)  Viitifian,  Avliiit  tht>y  hud  aHirincd  with 
their  ,si<^niit\iresi(thoiiie  with  so  <jcreiit  aliw^rity,  is  a 
fact  not  only  (li^])lora,lil<',  hut  inexitliealilp,  l>y  rea- 
son of  the  contradict  ion  it  puqiortH. 

Tti  \h"  histi)ry  of  the  Papacy,  //oiicfinx  and 
F/17/',  and  in  the  hi-story  of  the  Councils,  !iil/r 
and  Ciiiin'iiii  ■/ ,  and  iiKiiiy  o^lcv  fac'«  wi  i-c  hroutjht 
and  rei)<'ated  hefniv  the  Council  hy  the  opponents 
of  the  Pontifical  infallihili^y,  >)iit  they  wore  vic- 
toriously refuted ;  for  these  few  isolated  and  oh- 
scr.re  fa(!ts  (^an  pr()V(>  nothiuf^  aj^ainst  the  (dear 
testinionies  of  S(;ripture,  (xenernl  Councils  and 
secular  facts  of  the  Poutifi<;ate,  even  with  res])ec,t 
to  infallihility  shininir  so  hrij^'lit  in  liistory. 

Wo  (ioiudTido  hy  sayin;j;  that  th(>  doctrinal  in- 
fallihility of  Peter  and  of  his  successors  is  one  of 
the  truths  most  clearly  proved  liy  Scripture, 
(ionoral  Councils  and  ti-adition  ;  that  it  is  the  in- 
t  destrnet^hlo  cement  of  the  divine  constitution  of" 
the  (liuich  ;  that  no  one  <'an  deal  a  hlow  to  it 
without  overthrowini^  thi;  cc'oiioiny  of  the  faith  ; 
that  the  supreme  chief  of  an  infallihle  Church 
must  necessai'ily  he  infallible  himself;  that  the 
foundation  of  an  iiunioveahle  edifi(!C  must  bo  im- 
moveable itself,  and  a  condition  of  the  (."ihurcli's 
infallibility,  the  latt(>r  being;  iiifoilible  because 
the  former  is;  that,  moreover,  the  doctrine  of 
Peter  is  preidsely  what  assures  the  certitude  of 
our  faith. 

A  very  lon^j;  and  ol)stinat,e  opj)osition  wys  made 
to  the  Pontifical  infallibility,  by  the  in(a'edulous 
outside,  and  by  learned,  pious  and  venerable  Pre- 
lates inside  of  the  (,'ouncil.  I iod  so  permitted  it 
that  the  question  should  be  more  deeply  studied 
and  (examined  and  all  difficulties  (deared  up  and 
i-emoved,  in  order  to  show  the  greater  manifesta- 
tion of  the  truth.  Without  denyinur  that  there 
were  many  learned  and  eh)(pient  Fatliei-s  in  the 
minority,  wo  say,  and  positively  affirm,  that  the 
lar<?eat  number  of  such  talented  men  was  in  the 
ranks  of  the  majority. 

We  have  assisted  at  all  the  Gcn(M'al  Ciongrega- 
tions  (86) ;  and  it  is  as  an  attentive  and  impartial 
witness  we  assert  that  the  liberty  in  the  Council 
had  been  extended  to  its  ultimate  limits.  Who- 
soever asked  for  the  word,  obtained  and  kept  it 
as  long  as  he  choose.  Tf  called  to  order  he  was 
allowed  to  continue.  After  the  fifteen  General 
Congregations  and  the  hearing  of   sixty-five  ora- 


tors irii  th"  o(  iieial  topic  of  the  Hclh  iiiii,  tho«e  of 
(lie  minority  who  were  pn^vented  speaking  by 
the  (dosing  of  tlie  discussi(m  at  the  requeHt  of  ouo 
hundred  and  fifty  Fathers,  had  no  right  to  com- 
plain ;  they  had  notliing  new  to  say,  and  th';  au- 
„-"st  assenibly  had  heard  enoiisyh  of  rcjietitions. 
The  (  onciliary  room  was  too  exti>nsive  in  the  he- 
giuning,  but  bi'fore  the  great  ([uestions  were 
l)rought  in  for  discussion  it  was  reduccKl  to  half 
of  its  former  dimensions,  so  that  any  one  endowed 
with  a  common  voi(^e  was   sure  to  be  understood. 

It  was  said  th;it  a  moral  unanimity  was  neces- 
sai-y  for  a  dognuiti(^  definition,  but  this  was  a 
wj'ong  assertion,  for  the  unanimity  of  suffrages 
had  never  been  reipiired;  it  never  took  ] dace. 
The  divinity  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  would 
never  have  been  defined  at  Nice,  if  the  Fathers  of 
of  the  first  (lv!umeni(!al  Council  had  submitted  to 
that  (condition.  Tn  bringing  forward,  on  the 
prent^nt  occasion,  the  (juestion  of  moral  unanimity 
in  order  to  defeat  the  definition  of  the  Pontifical 
infallibility,  the  Oallicans  placed  themselves  in  a 
position  which  manifestivl  rather  too  (d"arly  the 
great  contradiction  in  which  they  fell,  by  pub- 
lishing as  their  rule,  the  superiority  of  the  Coun- 
(dl  over  the  Poi)e  dissenting  from  the  majority, 
and  behidd,  in  the  present  instance  th(!  majority 
was  united  with  the  Pope,  and  they  refused  to 
submit. 

Tt  has  been  said  that  the  Pope  would  be  isolat- 
ed, absolute  and  separated  from  the  Church,  over 
which  h(!  would  exendse  a  despotic  sway.  No 
such  thing  wouM  ever  happen,  for  the  Pope, 
whom  Ave  ought  to  love,  can  never  be  separated 
from  the  universal  Church ;  he  can  nev(>r  define 
anylhing  but  what  she  bcdievos;  he  only  nuiin- 
tains  in  its  integritj%  against  all  profan'>  novelty, 
the  faith  which  she  has  professed  from  all  times 
and  whi(di    shi>  (-.(mtinues  to  proft>8s  in  all  places. 

Our  Protestant  friends  and  non-Catholics  need 
have  no  fears  for  the  pea(30  of  the  Church, 
niptures  among  the  Bishops,  or  heren-ies  in  our 
midst.  No,  for  the  time  of  heivsies  is  past  and 
their  fruits  are  too  well  known.  And  above  all, 
the  Fathers  of  the  op^iosition  are  too  well  rccog- 
ui/ed  for  their  piety  and  their  zeal  fiu"  the  wel- 
fare of  tht^  Church,  to  suppose  that  thej"^  will  not 
submit.  They  will,  sooner  or  later,  return. 
Their  mitred  heads  will  bow  and  their  cpiseop.al 
lips  will  say  Credo.'  in  regard  to  the  dogmatic 
constitution  defining  the  prerogatives  of  the  Pope. 
For  a  guarantee  of  this,  oiu*  hope,  we  have  already 
the  adhesion  given,  before  leaving  the  Conciliaiy 
room,  of  the  two  Prelates  who  gave  negative 
votes  on  the  Iftth  ;  we  have  also  the  adhesions  of 


ef 


13 


the  Ciiriliiials  of    Vifinia,  Pra.uin',  Ivsiuk^iu    iiiul 
uthciN,  iH'fDVi'  Iciiviiiii'  TvuiiH'  fill'  tlu'ir  dincc  scs. 

Tu  fiui',  ill  ifutiiry  like  uur.«,  ovcrtlowt'd  witli 
a  (leliijjfi'  of  till'  worst  human  jiassions  and  a  for- 
nmt  of  \vii;ki'd  cri'ors,  such  as  iutiddity,  incredu- 
lity, rationalism,  paiithfisiii  and  materialism  ;  at 
a  time  when  a  spirit  of  iusiihordii'ation,  indepen- 
dence and  revolt  is  rafjciu^  in  Europe,  civil  and 
relifj:ious  authority  is  thrown  away,  huu\an  and 
divin  ■  laws  are  trampled,  dissenters  have  no 
ground  to  rest  u])on  ;  at  an  epoch  Mhen  the  most 
wicked  j)rineii>les  of  f^^overnin;^'  are  put  in  prac- 
tice, le;j;itiuiate  j^overuTneuts  are  disjMJsessed  and 
fall  to  ruin  imder  the  wt-itrht  of  revolution,  and  a 
danK'''rous  sect  with  th(>  s;i-e;illed  Liberal  (.'atholic 
party,  was  trying'  to  shorten  the  only  oiio  su- 
preme authority  remaiuinn'  unimpaired  on  earth, 
it  was  certainly  most  necessary  that,  instead  of 
lM'in<jj  reducM'd,  it  should  ho  strongly  reaffinned 
and,  if  posxihle,  more  consolidated,  in  order  to 
be  a  s;i\iiig  ark  for  perishing  society.  And, 
thank  God,  this  was  done  on  tlie  ISth  inst.  The 
proclamation  of  the  immortal  faith  of  the  Church 
to  the  infallil)ility  of  her  Chief,  is  therefore  one 
of  the  greatest  blessings  of  (l(jd  upon  numkind  ; 
one  of  those  blessings  which  not  only  sustains 
and  rejjairs,  but  which  creates.  The  dogma  is 
not  new,  and  nevertheless  it  will  bring  into  the 
world  something  new.  U^xju  the  eternal  basis 
which  it  atHrnis  and  (enlarges,  it  will  instil  a  nt^w 
order  which  the  world  is  in  need  of.  To  put  the 
truth  in  its  place  and  in  its  light,  so  that  t^-ror 
(!an  no  more  cover  it  and  rest  \>owerless  against 
its  majesty,  is  what  the  holy  OEcumenical  Conn- 
(^il  has  done  in  promulgating  the  last  doguuitical 
er  constitution,  the  principal  ettW'ts  of  which  will 
be  the  destmction  of  error  and  false  dogmas,  tlu! 
reconstruction  of  true  authority  and  an  increase 
of  filial  love  and  affection  for  the  suprem.  Pontiff, 
the  doctor  and  pastor  of  all  christians. 

Let  us  enter  into  detail.  There  has  been  fabri- 
(^ated,  laid  down  and  applied,  under  the  sanction 
of  1 1  ill  I  the  nil  I,  for  alwut  one  hundred  years,  nearly 
all  the  social  dogmas  which  govern,  that  is,  which 
grind  and  pulveri/e  human  society  ;  dogmas  of 
J^O  and  their  derivations,  sectarianism  and  divin- 
ity of  State,  atheism  of  the  law,  principle's  of  na- 
tionality, right  of  error,  right  of  frauds,  right  of 
dispoacssion  and  right  of  force.  The  Pope,  not 
long  since,  condemned  a  list  of  thi^  principal  ones, 
in  the  Syllabus.  These  arc  the  dogmas  Avhieh 
have  been  made  with  the  intention  of  using  them, 
and  they  have  been  used  and  are  still  being  used. 
The  fabrication  of  them  is  in  full  activity.  Its 
dogmatic  is  an  immense  instrument  of  public  and 


private  violeni-e.  The  revolutionary  practice  is 
multiplying  the  glariu;.'  proofs  of  tluit.  'l"he 
fa)irieators  anil  aiH)stles  of  tlu'se  nuiuerous dogmas 
of  dispossession  arc  to  be  found  everywhere  in 
those  that  are  |)opular  in  letters,  in  philosophy 
and  iu  polities.  Tlu-ir  general  jjlan  is  dis|KlMS'•ss- 
iug  tirod  from  the  world  and  the  world  froiritrod, 
by  \  J'  means  of  force,  the  ultimate  wonl  forerror. 
Snr^h  are  tin;  false  and  wicked  dogmas  which 
the  Pontifical  infallil)ility  has  to  contend  with 
and  destroy.  Ah!  the  race  of  thi;  Oospel  lias 
neither  tlie  same  aim  nor  the  sami!  wants  as  the 
rt>volution,  and  cannot  do  the  same  things. — 
Its  tendencies  are  different.  It  does  not  create 
dogmas  nor  speculate  upon  them.  It  affirms  them 
at  tlie  price  of  its  popularity,  at  thi^  price  of  it.^ 
riches,  at  the  price  of  its  liberty  and  of  its  blood  ; 
thereby,  no  doubt,  it  wislies  to  put  God  in  posses- 
sion of  the  world  and  the  world  in  possession  of 
( lod  ;  but  it  expects  that  triuuiph  only  from  the 
force  of  love  and  the  ultimate  word  of  truth. 

The  absence  and  death  of  authority  have  de- 
livered the  world  to  lies,  to  error,  to  crime  and  to 
the  degrading  hand  of  force,  throwing  unfortun- 
ate nations  to  share  sometimes  the  daring  of 
brigands  and  sometimes  thi;  impudence  of  scoun- 
drels. Separated  from  God,  the  authority  had 
pori.shed  among  men.  In  affirming  in  the 
preseiuu!  of  mankind  the  whole  extent  of  the 
rights  of  the  Vicar  of  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  ac- 
knowledging in  him  the  prerogatives  of  infalli- 
bility when  he  gives  the  rule  of  faith  and  morals, 
the  Council  and  the  Pope  pro(daim  that  the  source 
of  authority  is  living  and  certain  in  the  world. 
Undoubtedly  might  will  wrestle  to  preserve  its 
empire,  but  it  will  have  heiieeforth  to  wrestle 
against  the  faith  of  mankind  acknowledging  thg 
authority  to  be  iu  the  Pojm,'.  It  is  there  where 
the  world  that  wants  it,  will  find  it,  for  enter- 
ing under  his  direction,  into  the  dignity  and 
utility  of  a  ('hristian  life.  Th(>rofore,  the  recon- 
struction of  authority  in  the  world  and  the  sub- 
stitution of  authority  to  the  humiliating  and 
barren  <'.aprices  of  dictature — such  will  he  the  so- 
cial conseipiencos  of  the  Pontifical  infallibility. 
In  concert  with  the  human  consijience,  reinstated 
in  the  serenity  of  light,  the  Papacy  Avill  jierftjrm 
the  great  work  and  will  extend  the  eon(|uests  of 
the  cross  on  the  immense  domains  of  slavery  and 
error.  The  revolution  has  begun  by  the  prodn- 
lUdtion  of  the  rights  of  man,  it  icill  finish  by  thi; 
prochimdtion  of  the  rights  of  God.  Thus  the 
Church  of  the  19th  century,  bom  when  the  laugh, 
ters  of  Voltaire  were  the  profession  of  faith  of 
mankind,  raised  under  the  fire  of  derision,  scoffed 


.il!i!iim..~iia. 


*»W-«i«MMMMH 


14 


/^<7/ 


at.  I)y  philosophy  anil  sciionco,  pcrHccmtod  by  llio 
|H)Utic,,  iMitrayed  uud  toniioutoii  by  all  thu  iwwora 
of  tho  t'lirth,  and,  in  fino,  havinLf  uoarly  huc- 
(Miinbcd,  hero  and  there,  to  tho  Htroko  oi  ration- 
alism, >lio  saino  Chiircih  proclaims  that  tho  word 
of  Josus  prevails  after  (^i^^htoon  (ioiitiirios  aj^ainst 
all  th(!  denials  of  doubts  and  of  formal  robollion, 
invested  with  all  the  material  foreo  whieli  exists 
here  below.  It  is  the  intolleotiial  fact  and  the  aet 
of  faith,  the  most  wonderful  whie.li  perhaps  tho 
histoi-y  of  oenturies  oontainH. 

In  terininatin<^  this  long  pastoral  of  our  affec;- 
tiou,  wo  entreat  you,  beloved  brethren,  to  iJ^'iw 
most  humble  thanksgiving'  to  God  for  the  signal- 
ized benefit  granted  to  the  world  in  thene  unhappy 
times  of  universal  aberrations  and  deplorablts 
blindness  ;  and,  indeed,  what  more  preeioua  and 
more  desirable  gift  could  Divine  merey  afford  to 
men  that  than  solemn  definition  whieh  delivers  tho 
Chiireh  from  the  troublesome  seet  of  (luUicauiam 
and  confirms  us  in  the  possession  of  an  iiifdUible 
vuiKtcr  of  truth  f  of  truth  without  which  tho  hu- 
man nature,  giving  way  to  its  wanderings,  would 
end  by  descending  beneath  the  condition  of  brutes 
destitute  of  intelligence. 

Wo  recommend  you  to  daily  ofl'er  most  solojun 
thanksgiving  to  (lod  for  having  created  and  re- 
deemed you  by  the  precious  blood  of  His  divine 
Son ;  for  having  made  you  christians,  children  of 
God  and  of  thai  Church  whose  edifi(!e  and  founda- 
tion is  immovable ;  for  having  gTanted  you  to  be 
born,  not  among  the  sectarians  who  are  tossed  to 
and  fro  and  carried  about  with  every  wind  of  doc- 
trines, (Eph.  4,  14)  but  of  Catholic  parents,  whose 


faith  is  grounded  on  a  solid  roek.  In  return  for  ail 
these  benefits, love,  cherish  and  obey  your  infaJlitde 
Mother,  tho  Chunih  of  Christ,  foundi'd  on  a  ro(;k  ; 
lovp,  cherish  and  obey  your  infallible  l''ath"r,  the 
Poi)e,  the  immoveable  foundation  of  the  Church. 
Let  your  faith  Ik;  a  strong,  living  and  practical 
one,  your  life  shining  with  good  works  and 
worthy  of  the  holy  religion  you  profess.  Make 
what  amends  you  r'an  for  all  the  outrages  offered 
to  (rod,  to  tho  Church  of  Christ  and  His  Viear  in 
these  times  of  ini.[uity  and  fury  of  the  gates  of 
hell  against  all  that  is  saered.  We  most  earn- 
estly bog  oi  our  Bles.sed  Saviour  Jesus  C^hrist  to 
increase  that  siiKsere  religion  whi<;h  distinguishes 
you,  and  which,  if  you  persevere  in  during  the 
days  of  your  i>ilgriiiuige  upon  earth,  will  lead  you 
to  tho  full  jjossession  of  tlu'  felicity  of  tho  Celes- 
tial Kingdom. 

We  recommend  our  venerable  brethren  and 
zealous  (lo-o^wrators  to  road  thc^  present  pastoral 
and  to  have  a  Te  Dnnit  sung  in  all  the  chunihes 
of  our  Ar<;hdioceso,  in  thanksgiving  for  all  the 
benefits  we  have  received  from  God,  and  especially 
for  tho  most  precsious  definition  of  tho  Pontifical 
infallibility'.  And  wishing  you,  beloved  breth- 
ren, all  kinds  of  .spiritual  and  temporal  happiness, 
we  conclude  with  tho  words  of  St.  Paul  to  Timi*- 
thy  :  "The  grace  of  our  Lord  Je.sus  Christ  be 
with  you  all."     [1  Tim.,  ;l  18.] 

Given  out  of  the  Flaminian  gates  of  Rome, 
July,  31,  1870. 

\i\  N.  BLANCHET, 

ArrJibishoji  of  Orei/oii  City. 


ISSbsJ'sSS'; 


IX 


-•■  ■ 


(K)N(U(). 

KRANCiscj  yoiinKRTr  iiLAX(JiiEi\  ARLiriEPiscovi  oiu:. 

QONENSIS  [N  STATJlUrs  F(KIH:iiATIS,  AM  ERIC  .K  S  El'. 
TKMTRIONATAS,  [N  CONCTIJO  VA7 /CAXO  HA  REX  DA 
A'r  NOiV  HABIT  A,  RATIONE  RENU  XTIATIONIS  ^UO 
JVNE  LOqUEXDl,  DIE'ld  JULII,  1^<70, 


o^.E.MlNKNTISSIMI    AC    IIkVKIIKNI>ISSIMI    PaTKKsI 

y,  Eminkntissimi  Pk.ksidbs! 

Muitas  et  luculente  disnertas  iiiidiviHtis 
probiitiones  circa  illam  maxinii  niotnciiti 
quiustionem  de  Koinani  PoiiliHciis  infiilli- 
bilitate.  II(i!c  doctrina  catholica,  ut  niilii 
videtur,  sufticienter  vindicata  est,  et  oh- 
jeetiones,  contra  ejusfundamenta  acervata-, 
^/  satis  dirut^  fuerant.  Nulla  ratif)  est  ciir 
cadera  argumenta  ant  novas  disquisitiones 
anteponere  aj^grediar.  Attainen,  quuni 
regionis  Canadiensis,  ubi  natus  sum,  tides, 
ea  de  re,  in  hoc  sancto  C(etu,  vix  exjiosita 
sit,  aliquid  ad  hane  inanifestandam  atter- 
endum  esse  jndico.  Quuni  iiisuper  dic- 
tum fuerit  fere  omnes  Unitorum  Statuuni 
Ameriese  Episcopojj,  ftacerdotes  et  rtdelcs 
propositio  definitioni  non  favere,  ego,  t-el^- 
C  nior  Episcopus,  sive  Araericie  Britaiiia;, 
sive  F(cderatorum  Statuum,  a  veritate,*a 
magna  regionis  honore,  necnon  ab  officii 
nostri  sanctitate  motus,  dictam  assertionem, 
utpote  nimis  generalem  et  consequenter 
erga  multos  injustara  contradicere  com- 
pellor. 

Et  primum  de  America  Britaunica  hoc 
dicendum  censeo.  Gallo-Canadiensis 
quoad  originem  et  educationem,  per  qua- 
draginta  duos  annos  in  patria  vixi,  septem 
annis  in  missionibus  Novi  Brunswick  ex- 
ceptis,  et  ibidem  doctrinani  in  nostro 
Bchemate  consignatam  semper  professus 
sum.  Sic  etiam  ab  initio  colonisationis, 
omnes  incolui  Uanadienses  credidornnt. 
In  hac  enim  regione,  ubi  viget  sancta  reli- 


gio  Catholica  sicut  in  Apostolicis  tcinjiori- 
bus  cum  lUmo  ac  Hiiio  Venerabilis  Ecclo- 
sije  Quebecciisis  Archiepiscopo  (pii,  sinon 
abesset,  idem  testimonium  attulissel,  ciincf  i 
episcoj)i  districtuum  dictorum  Canada  Ori- 
entalis,  Canada  Occideutalis  et  Flumen  llu- 
brum  usque  ad  loginquas  Maris  Pacirici 
ripas,  clerus  quoqiie  et  lideles,  toto  corde, 
unanimique  voce  deliuitionciii  de((ua  agi- 
tur  expectant  et  j)0stulant.  Ilanc  doc- 
trinam  in  eo  dem  nujur  rccognitos  tractus, 
curreiitcdecimo  septiino  sacculo,attuk'rant 
missionarii  ex  Gallia  venientes,  necnon  et 
])nmi  coloni  quos  religiosa  Brit/ania 
transmiserat.  Et,  de  die  in  diem,  liiec 
lides  dilectissima,  in  supra  nominatis  locis, 
iirmior  evadit.  Idemquoque,  non  ob- 
stantibus  quibusdam  dictis,  atKrmandum 
est  (juoad  dis})ositioue9  deri  et  tideli- 
um  ))rovincite  Halifaxiensis  ad  quam  dis- 
trictus  jam  uominatus  Novi  Brunswick 
])crtinet,  nulla  est  ibi  alia  sententia  et  sim- 
ilibus  votis  omnes  emoventur. 

Qu(x^  vero  dicenda  habeo  circa  Ficdcra- 
tos  Americie  Status,  specialiter  exponam  de 
provincia  mea  Oregonensi,  idest,  de  adop- 
tionis  meiu  patria  dilectissima,  et  delude 
goneraliter  de  omnibus  Provinciis  istius  . 
magnie  Republicje.  ^ 

Quum  in  missionem  Oregouensem  qua- 
intra  saxeos  raontes  et  magnum  Paci- 
tioum  oceanum  jacet,  (assistente  socio 
sacerdote  qui  nunc  est  InsuliC  Van- 
couvercnsis  Episcopus,)  Anno  Domini 
millesimo  octingentesimo  trigesimo  oc- 
tavo,  missus    fuerim,   ])er   triginta   duos 


l\ 


aniiot  istii'  l;ilM)r;iiis  couiiiioriitu!"  sum.  <'<is  Pr<>viiK'i;»niiii  iiosininnii  ah  Atliiiiticis 
Priiici|tiisrjiisiloiii  nova' fainiliii'  (•l^•i^itilHla',  littorilms  iisfiuc  ad  iiostnmi  inyoiis  I^iciH- 
iiicrciiioiitis  (juo(|ii{>  ct  jpro^iVHsihiis  (;avi-  I'lmi  marc,  emu  |ilausii  ct  suhmissiono  stut- 
Mis  Mim.  I'ru'tciva,  Anno  oftiiisoiilcsimo  turn  lam  ilctiiiitioiicm  (iiiam  |>rimum  arci'|(- 
(|iia<lra}j;('simi)   tcrlio   supra    inillcssimiim,  TiTros. 

ro<,'ion('mi|)sam  vidiiii  X'icariatiim  Apostol-  Tcstimoiiio  mco  ita  voracitcr  ct  ex  toti) 
ic'iim  crcctum,tril)iis(nio  aliis  aimis  cla|>sis,  conic  allato  luce  sccpiciitia  addcrc  mihi 
in  ProviiH'iam  Ki'dcsiasticam.  Kpiscopos  Hcoat,  Hie  est  moihis  cjuo  invaluit  a|»u<l 
c)iis,saccnlotcs  ct  liildcs  optimc  coj^nosco  Hddcs  nostros  ilia  dc  intiillil»ilitat(>  capitis 
ct  contidcntcr  asscrcro  j-osHiim  omucs  ere-  Ecclcsia'  scnlcntia:  christiaiwc  piacqno 
dcre,sicutetcg(),K<)nianum  I*()nliticcm,nc-  matrcs  pueris  siiis  sjcpc  tlictilavcnmt  I'a- 
ati  Petri  succcssorcm,  inthllihilitcr  omncs  pam  jirincipis  apostolonim  sncccssorcm, 
doccrci^entcs.  Ktcniju  crcdimussuiirenium  Domini  Nostri.Icsu  ("hrisli  Vicariiim  esse; 
Kcclesiie  ortieialitcr  ern're  non  i-osse,  ijuia  luuic  diicem  Kcdesiic  usque  in  tincm  }H'r- 
dici  ncquit  .Tustum,  C'lemcnlem  ct  Sapien-  mancntis,  Deum  ipsum  rcpncscntarc  supci- 
tissimumDeum  imposuissc  ^rc!j;i,(iuam  per  terrain;  cidem  a  Cliristo  Jesu  davcs  cu'- 
Hangiiinem  Filii  Sui  dilcctissimi  rcdeniit,  Jorum  datas  fuissc;  episcopos  oniiies  a 
pastorem  fallibilcm  ijtii  a<j;tios  el  oves  ad  Summo  Pontifice  missos,  institutioncin  et 
uociva  i)ascua  vd  inter  lu})osduccre  possit;  jurisdictionem  al>  eodem  acdpcrc;  lidcni 
credimus  quia,  cum  inysticum  Kcclesia'  J'apa'  in  nomine  Spiritus  Sancti  l(j(juentis 
a'diticium  uscjue  ad  consummationem  sai-  deticerc  nccjui;  suprcma  ejus  mandata  pro 
culi  permaneiidum  sit  ipsius  fundanientum  toto  diristianorum  i)oi)ulo  oUligatoria  esse 
codem  modo  tamdiu  stare  debet;  credi-  et  veram  tidci  catliolicic  notam  in  lirma 
mus  quia,  si  Petrus  ab  errore  non  immun-  adbavione  tidei  Petri  inncniendam  esse  et 
is  esset,, Jesus  Christus,  Salvator  noster,  in  probandam.  Ihcc  diristianarum  laatrum 
vaiium  ei  imposuisset  munus  coniirmandi  assidua  pva'dieatio  in  aiiimo  puerorum  im- 
fratrcssuos;  credimus  quia  sine  blaspho-  primitur  et  per  onines  a-tates  vitie  cosdcm, 
miaassereiidum  nonestnec  innucndumDei  ut  ita  dicam,  comitatui.  Communis  scn- 
Filium  Unigeuitum  pro  Petro  Patrem  su-  sus  iiddium  lumenque  rationis,  divinte 
urn  a>ternum  frustra  oravisse.  ILec  est  revdationi  innixum,  auctoritatem  infallibi- 
Hdes  nostra  in  qua  per  totam  Provindam  lem,  ad  regendam  Ecclesiam  Dei  iieces- 
Oregonensem  vivimus  et  betamur.  sariam,  admittendain  esse  apprime  demon- 

Si  autcm  generaliccr  consideremus  Sta-  strant.  Et  idem  confirmatur  in  mente  ju- 
tum  rdigionis  Catbolica^  in  supra  dictis  ventutis  tarn  per  solemni'm  Litterarum 
America?  Uiiitis  Statibus,  hiuc  exi)oncnda  Pontiticalium  i>ublicationein  quam  per 
esse  videntur,  scilicet :  Septcm  sunt  ibidem  cpiscoporum  mandata  circa  easrespectuose, 
Ecdesiastic;eProvinciie,aexaginta  ICpiscopi  >iiie  mora  ct  in  toto  accipendas,  et  y)rae- 
'2,500  saccrdotes  el  quinque  vcl  sex  mille  tcrca  per  paroc^liorum  JtmiitutiiauGS  qua' 
millia  Catliolicoruni.  Ilis  positis,  asserere  tractant  de  Vicarii  Clirisli  prierogativis. 
audeo,  antequam  quajdam  observationes,  de-  Hinc  veneratio,  pietas  el  confidentia  quw 
finitioi)i  baud  faventes  notiu  fuerint,  unaiii-  erga  supremum  pastorem  in  omnibus  orbis 
mem  fuisse  pastor  um  et  ovium  fidem  re-  catbolici  regionibus  manifestanturi ;  hinc 
lative  ad  Summi  Pontiticis  inerrantiam.  illa.^,  multiplices  eleemosinai  quaj  acl  pedes 
Etiam  nunc,  quamvis  Episcopi  a]iqui,plus  ejus  per  episcopos  et  aliis  modis  afferuntur. 
minusve  mulati  videntur,  tcstificor  omnes,  Hocce  jus  plenum  quo  Ilomanus  Ponli- 
iisdem  pauds  exceptis,  antistites  nostros  et  fcx  absque  errore/judicat,  Doctores  Eccle- 
pra;sertim  doctissimum  veritalisque  studio-  site  agnoveruntfriovem  decern  stecula  tam- 
sissimum  Archieiiiscopum  Spalding  cele-  quam  semper  vigens  et  divinitus  fundatuni 
berrimie  Ecclcsia'  Baltimorensis  praisu-  pnedicaverunt,  ipsique  Petri  successores 
lem,  onmem  clerum,  omnesque  laicos  for-  confidenter  exercuerent.  Si  autem  non 
titer  et  aperte  Christum  ipsum  per  os  Pe-  esset  legitimum,  nee  a  divino  Fundatore 
tri  ex  cathedra  loquenlis,  in  perpetuum  constitutum,  scqueretur  doctores  egregios, 
universum  orbem  docere,  et  suprema  omnes  sanctos,  totamque  Ecclesiam  usur- 
Romanorum  Pontificum  judicia,  esse  pationem  nullo  modo  justificatam  perenni- 
irreformabiliter  tenenda.  Ideo,  multo  ter  approbasse;  quod  certissime  de  sponsa 
verius,  dicendum  esset  fere  omnes  Catholi-  Chrisli  immaculata  minime  dicendum  est. 


!        / 


/ 


/ 


'&: 


f/Mrrifr  i-j^rvuM 


r 


(K-l':uii)ils   est    Hicilt   supra  dictii'  ilortriiia JV^Miictac  Kcch'-iac   iniiiiic'^J-t  lior  ii< 
clara  ('\;   isltio  tiriniKHic   vimlifatio,  i;;i   iitr^aii'luiii.  ciiin  iilciiior  |uiiii'r|iii   aucin 


A' 


a]>uil 
on  mi- 
irit  iti-> 
"lii'iTi'  ii'iii  liiiK'aiii  "caii^a  jaiiijairi  jmlicata  allii-inalio  (•()iisilii«  ninim  non  lawal.  I'lo- 
«'»t."  KU'iiim  major  pars  |)()[iuli  cliristiaiii,  iliicct  ftiain  iiiiiniinfa,  iiii'-tif  iidiiiciii , 
major  paiN  saccrdotum,  majoniuc  pars  at'4niim|uc  >tii]on'iii  apinl  aliijiios  ipii 
loliiis  orlti--  cpiscoponim,  Supremo  I'asto,  noincii  calhorKMiiii  retiiiciitcs,  attamcu 
re  miillis  iiioili^  aiimiciitc,  >i('  toto  coriU'  opinioiiiliiis  (luibiisdaiu  miindiim  roLCciiti- 
coiilitciiliir  voti^iipic  liau  I  i'^iioti-^  palaiii  liir-ari'idcrcdcvi  IdMnt.  S('d,.pi.im  primiitii 
diclilaiil.  I'ikIc,  si  frroiicac^sct  sciitciitia  liai'c  proclamatio  ali  liac  siiida  Svnodo 
"piam  caput  ct  meml)ra  <'oii>"ordi(cr  siis-  factu,  inter  omne<  (pii  nomine  chri-tiano 
linent  promi-'sioncs  divina' inane>^ovasi«;sent  <^aiideiil,  undiipie  et  in  perpclnam  ma\i- 
et  portiL'  iiit'eri  adversus  Keclesiam  taiidi'm  mam  coiit'ovt'liit  laetitium. 
piu'valuissont.  Al)sit!  Noimc  dictum  est  M  saltem  :  llirmarL'  possum  procauadi- 
••  verl.a  mea  non  praefenl.mit  V"  ,,„^i  ,.onriono,  sicut  jam  si^niticavi,  pro  vas. 

IMunmi  Oratovols  m  liac  Sancta  Aula  ,i.^i„iH  Fu-deratmaim  Statuum  I{ei)ul)liea, 
dixorunt,  i)er  detimtioMom,  do  qua  dissen-  ^.i  j,,.,,  .^]\\^  Septemdionalisac  Meridionalis 
lur, /oliim  eallioliconim  er^'a  t'l.nsti  Vi-  Americanim  ]Kirtibiis.  Si,  ecoulra,  volis 
:earium4«s,'efactum  et  toisan  lenitus  ox-  uustris  Concilium  Vati<annm  non  anmuTcl, 
tinctiiMi  fore.  Talis  appreliensK.,  ut  mihi  i„^,(.„s  et  inauditus  luctus  j.er  totiim  no- 
a|.paret,millomtitiir  fundamento.  (Vn<oo  ^,1,^  Continuntem,  a  jmlo  boreali  us(|Ue 
uti<iue,<iuodsiexoptata  solutio  praetermit-  J^,■^  jiu-tralos  j)lagas  pervaderet. 
teretuv,  eadem  I'orsitau  nou  maneront.     Si 


aiitem  int'allihilitas  imiversalis  doctoris  de- 
finitive  alKrmetur  ct  <leclaretur,  tunc  re- 
vera  Pastor  aiinorun)  ot  ovium  nova  sjrloria 
coronatus  venorabilior  amore{pu>  dii^nior 
ante  oculos  vere  crodentiiim  in  futurum 
apparebit. 

Dictum  est  insiiper  eandcm  detinitioneui 
turbationes  in  toto  orbe  terrarutu  produc- 
tnram  esse.     Ilic  distimxucndu  videtur  rl*!^ 


C^ua  propter,  ]ilurimis  ad  rein  pertinen- 
tilius  ralionibus  praeternnssis,  divino  tfs- 
timoni(»  imiixus,  irloriam  Dei  omnipotentis 
intendens,  KccIi'siaMMie  salutem  cu))ienK, 
huic  delinitioni  do  Ivomani  I'ontiticis  Infid- 
iibiliiato,  uti  in  (juarto  C'apituto  Soliematis 
expriiriitur,  assontire  valeo. 

t  F.  N.  BLANCH  ET, 

Jrcliifpiscopus  Omfonopolitaniit. 


^1"^ 


rR.VXSLATlON. 


[From  tlicCuthdlir  Sentinel], 

Wo  have  been  jn-psentod  with  a  coj)}'  of 
tlie  above  discourso,  which  was  to  liave 
been  delivered  by  our  venerable  Arch- 
bishop in  the  Vatican  Council  u])on  the 
(piestion  of  Papal  infallibility.  The  speech 
was  not  delivered,  owing  to  the  fact  that 
at  the  request  of  the  Most  llev.  Archbish- 
op  of  Westminster,  all  the  Prelates,  who 
were  inscribed  to  speak,  and  had  not  yet 
delivered  their  addresses  —  Archbishop 
Blanchet  being  the  seventy-eighth  on  the 
list  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-three  ora- 
tors— gave  up  speaking  upon  it,  in  order 
to  close  the  discussion.  Ilis  Grace  pre- 
sented  the   Holy   Father  with  a  copy  of 


the  speech,  and  passed  one  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  the  great  Council,  to  be  preserved 
with  the  acts  of  the  same.  The  fMlowing 
is  a  translation  of  this  interesting  docu- 
ment : 

Most  Eminent  Presidents: 
Most   Eminent    and  ]V[ost  Rkv.  Fathers  : 

You  have  already  heard  many  clear  and 
eloquent  jjroofs  concerning  the  imjiortant 
question  of  the  infallibility  of  the  Jioman 
Pontiti".  That  doctrine  has  been,  1  believe, 
abundantly  vindicated,  and  the  numerous 
objections  brought  IbrAvard  against  its 
foundation,  sutKciently  demolished.  I 
therefore  see  no  reason  why  I  should  bring 
before  you  the  same  arguments  or  some 
new  disquisitions.  Juit  as  the  belief  of 
Canada,  my  native  country,  relating  to  the 


18 


suUjccI,  li;is  li.inlly  yet  bcoii  oxposcil  in 
tliis  lioly  ii>scml>ly,  I  jmlLj"'  it  iii-cc^smT . 
to  wi\  soiuctliinL;  ill  m:uiif(statioii  ol"  tts 
fliitli.  .Moivttvcr,  since  it,  li;is  Ihhm  sni^l 
Unit  luMrly  ill!  tlic  IJi^lio|)s  of  tlu'  I'liitiMl 
States,  as  \vv\\  iis  the  Priests  mid  tlie 
Fiiitlif'nl,  do  iioi  tlivor  flie  )iro|iii-ed  detiiii- 
tioM,  I,  the  Senior  Uisliop  ot'Iiriti-li  Amer- 
ica and  the  rniteil  States,  t'cel  coiii|ieIU'd, 
for  the  sidvc  of  trutli,  tlie  lioiior  of  our 
counlrv,  as  well  as  llie  sanctity  of  inv 
otKce,  t(j  contradict  the  aforesaid  assertion 
as  too  general  and  conseiiuently  unjust  to- 
wards many  C(»ncerned. 

And  Hrst,  I  have  this  miu-h  to  say  of 
British  America  :  Horn  of  I'Vench  Cana- 
dians and  e<hicated  in  Canada,  I  have 
lived  forty-two  years  in  niv  native  land  — 
save  seven  years  of  mission  in  New  Hrun,--- 
wick— and  I  have  always  professed  tiie 
(h)ctrine  entertained  in  this  scliemiu  Thus 
all  the  resident  Caiindians  bt'lieve,  from 
the  beniiminij  ot  the  colonization.  In 
that  country,  where  the  Catholic  religion 
is  in  the  same  condition  as  it  was  in 
Apostolic  times,  all  the  Bishops  of  KMstern 
and  Western  (^ina(hi,  those  of  lied  liiver 
and  us  flir  as  the  shores  of  the  Pacific 
Ocean,  the  eh^rgy,  as  also  the  faithful,  ex- 
pect and  earnestly  call  with  all  their  heart 
and  a  unanimous  voice  for  the  detinition 
of  said  doctrine.  The  most  illustrious  and 
nu)st    reverend     Aichhishop   of    Quebec, 

J  would  have  given  the  same  testimony  had 
^j^^jj  he  not  been  obliged  to  return  home. 
This  doctrine  was  brought  into  these  new 
discovered  lands  by  the  missionaries  from 
France,  and  by  the  Hrst  jilanters  t'lie  reli- 
gious Hretagne  had  sent  there.  And  this 
cherished  fiiith  throws  stron<rerdav  bv  dav 
in  these  districts.  The  same  may  be  t;aid, 
notwithstanding  some  contrary  assertions, 
as  regards  the  disp.osition  of  the  clergy 
and  the  faithful  of  the  Province  of  Hali- 
fax, to  wliich  belongs  the  already  men- 
tioned district  of  New  Brunswick;  there  is 
no  other  belief  there  and  all  are  imbue<l 
with  the  same  desires. 

As  to  what  I  have  to  say  in  refference 
to  the  United  States,  my  dearl}'  loved  and 
adopted  country,  I  would  first  speak  of 
my  Province  of  Oregon  in  ])articular,  and 
^^  then  regarding  j)ther  provinces  of  the 
great  llepublic  in  general. 

Having  been  sent  in  the  year  1X38  (to- 
gether with  a  fellow  ju-iest,  now  the  Bish- 
op of  ^'ancouver  Island,)  to  the  mission 


of  OregiMi,  I  remained  :ind  woiked  there 
f!>r  thirty  two  years.  I  li;i<l  the  satisfac- 
tion to  witness  the  Ijegiiming  of  that  new 
Christi;ui  flimily,  its  giowth  and  its  pro- 
gres>.  In  the  year  ISf;{  I  >;vw  the  coun- 
try created  into  a  Varieate  A|>ostolic,  and 
three  years  later  into  an  Kcclesiastical 
Province.  I  know  its  Bishops, clergy  and 
faithful  well,  and  I  can  allinu  with  confi- 
d(>nce,  that  they  all  believe,  as  I  do,  that 
the  Sovereign  Pont  ill",  successcu'  to  the 
Blessed  Peter,  iidallibly  teaches  all  na- 
tions. l'\ii' we  believe  that  the  Supreme 
Chief  of  the  Church  cannot  err  when  he 
ollicially  teaches,  because  it  cannot  be 
said  that  the  just,  merciful  and  im)st  wise 
(4od  would  have  given  to  his  Church,  re- 
deemed by  the  blood  of  his  most  beloved 
Son,  a  fiillible  pastor,  who  might  lead  the 
lambs  and  sheep  into  noxious  pastures  or 
among  the  wolves.  We  believe  this  be- 
cause as,  the  mystical  edilice  of  the  Church 
is  tt>  last  until  the  consummation  of  the 
W(jrld,  so  must  its  foundation  stand  the 
test  of  lime.  We  believed  this  because, 
if  Peter  was  not  free  from  error,  Jesus 
Christ  our  Savior  would  have  in  vain  im- 
jiosed  on  him  the  charge  of  confirming  his 
brethren.  We  believe  this  because  it 
cannot  be  said  without  blasphemy  that 
the  Son  of  Cod  had  in  vain  jirayed  to  His 
Kternal  Father  for  Poter.  Such  is  the  be- 
lief of  the  Prelates,  clergv  and  faithful  in 
the  Province  of  Oregon. 

But  considering  the  State  of  religion  in 
the  United  Stales  of  America  in  gener.al, 
I  would  say  that  in  the  seven  Eclesiastical 
Provinces  there  are  sixty  Bishops,  two 
thousand  live  hundred  jiriests,  live  or  six 
millions  of  Catholics,  and  assert,  without 
hesitation,  that  before  certain  ohnrrvatfons, 
b}'  no  means  favoring  the  deiinition,  were 
made  known,  there  was  but  one  l)elief 
aFuoiig  the  pastors  and  faithful  with  re- 
gard to  the  inerrabillity  of  the  Pope.  Kven 
now,  although  some  l>ishops  seem  to  have 
changed  their  opinion,!  neverth-.l.^ss  testify 
that,  with  the  exception  of  the  few,  all  our 
chief  ])astors,and  especially  the  most  learn- 
ed and  the  most  studious  seeker  aft  it  truth, 
Archbisho))  Si)al(liiig,  Prelate  of  the  Met- 
ropolitan See  of  Baltinmre,  as  well  as  the 
clergy  and  laity,  do  firmly  and  openly 
jirofess  that  Christ  Himself  teaches  for- 
ever in  the  whole  world  through  the 
nujuth  of  Peter,  speaking  ex  m/Iwdrfi,  and 
that  the   siiprcnie  decisions  of  the  Koman 


/ 


iter 


lit 


,    / 


I'oiilirts  :u'i'  to  lit'  lu'lil  iiii(li;mi,'tMl)lt'. 
'I'luTi'titri'  it  can  lie  said  \\'\\\\  iimrt'  (•crtuiiily 
tliat  iKMi'ly  all  tlu' Calliolicsofoiir  I'rovin- 
<'t's,  tVorn  the  <-ii(»n's  nf  tin-  Atlantic  to 
till'  }j;ri'at  I'acitic  ocean,  will  accept  willi 
siibmissiou  tui<l  m-clainatioii tlie  threat  <l<»;^. 
ma  as  >oon  as  it  i>  deliiieil. 

To  this,  my  testimony  hroni^lit  foilli  in 
truth  ami  from  all  my  heart,  I  heu;  loave 
lo  aiM  the  followinv;  eoncerninj;  the  mode 
l)y  which  the  heliet'  in  the  intalliltility  of 
the  Head  of  the  Church  has  ^rown  and 
lu'coiae  stronger.  ("hri>lian  laid  |iioMs 
mothers  often  say  and  re|)eat  t<i  their  ciiil- 
dren  that  the  I'ope,  successor  of  the  Prince 
<»f  the  A|iostles,  is  tin-  \'icar  of  .le>ns 
Christ,  oiu'  Lord;  that  this  leader  of  the 
Church,  lastiiis;-  till  the  con>ummation  of 
time,  represents  (tod  Himself,  on  eailh; 
that  .Ic^ns  Ciirist  i^ave  him  the  keys  of 
the  kini^doni  of  lleiiven;  that  all  t!ie  I>i>h- 
<)|is  are  M-nt  l»y  the  Supreme  IVrntitr,  and 
receive  from  him  both  the  iiislitntion  and 
jurisdiction;  that  the  faith  of  the  I'ope, 
speakinir  in  the  name  of  the  Holy  (ihost, 
cannot  fail;  that  his  supreme  decisions  are 
ohlinatory  to  the  whole  Cliri>tian  pe(»ple; 
and  that  the  true  mark  of  Calholit-ity  i> 
to  he  found  in,  and  proved  !)y  a  tirm  ad- 
hesion to  the  faith  of  I'eler.  'I'his  assidu- 
ous teacliiii<f  of  the  Christian  mothers  is 
imprinted  into  the  mindsof  the  chiMren  and 
accompanies  them,  as  it  were,  through  all 
the  stages  of  their  lives.  Also,  the  com- 
mon sense  of  the  faithful  and  the  light  of 
their  reason, resting  on  the  Divine  Revela- 
tion, clearly  demonstrate  to  tlieni  that  an 
infallihle  authority  is  necesvarily  to  ho 
admitted  for  the  government  of  the 
Church.  And  the  same  is  conHrme<l  in 
the  minds  of  the  youtli,  both  by  the  sol- 
emn publication  of  I'ontilical  letters  and 
by  the  Episcopal  mamhites  dictating  their 
being  respectfully  received,  whole  and  en- 
tire, without  delay;  and  also,  by  the  in- 
struction ot  the  ])astors  treating  of  the 
prerogatives  of  Chri>t's  Vicar.  Hence 
the  marks  of  veneratitin,  piety  and  confi- 
dence which  are  manifest iiii'  themselves 
all  over  the  Catholic  world.  Hence  the 
multiplied  alms  olVered  to  him  and  de- 
posited at  his  foot  by  the  Bishops,  or  iu 
some  other  maimer. 

This  full  right,  in  virtue  of  which  the 
Roman  Pontitf  judges  without  error,  the 
doctors  of  the  Church  and  nineteen  cen- 
turies have  taught  as  a  riu;ht  alwavs  exist- 


ing and  Divinily  founded;  ,ind  the  sUc- 
cessoi'->  of  i'eler  I  hcni-elvi--,  exercised  il 
with  contidence.  l>ui  should  that  ri^lit 
not  Ik-  legitimate,  nor  constituted  by  the 
I)i\ine  Founder,  it  wmdd  follow  that  the 
eminent  doctor!*,  all  the  saint>  and  the 
winkle  Church,  ha\c  during  that  period 
approved  ot"  an  usurpation  altogethi-r  un- 
juxiiliable.  .Such  a  thing,  nmst  certainly, 
can  by  no  nH'an>  be  ^ai  1  of  the  imnnicu- 
late  spouse  of  Christ. 

More<tver,  the  present  state  of  the  (pies- 
ti(»n  must  be  con>idered  a^^  a  ch'ar  exposi- 
tion  and  a  tirm  vindication  ofthe  atbresaid 
doi'trine,  so  that  I  do  not  hesitate  to  say  : 
''the  (pieslion  is  already  decided,"  tor,  the 
greater  part  of  the  Chi'istian  peoph',  the 
grealci"  part  of  the  clergy  and  the  larger 
pari  of  the  Bishops,  thus  coid'ess  with  all 
their  hear!>,  and  o|ien!y  re)i«'at  their  well 
known  wishes,  the  Suprenu' Pastor,  giving 
in  many  ways  nneipiivocal  marks  of  hi> 
assent.  Therefore,  if  the  doctrine  which 
is  unanimously  held  by  tin-  Head  ami 
members  of  tlie  Church  was  erroneous, 
the  Divine  promises  would  have  become 
vain  !Uid  useles>,  an<l  the  gates  of  hell 
would  have  prevailed  against  the  (Church. 
CJ(»d  forbid  I  for  \va->  it  not  said,  ''My  word 
shall  nt)l  pass  away  ?" 

Many  orators  have  said,  in  this  sacred 
hall,  tiiat  the  zeal  of  the  Catholics  for 
Christ's  N'icar  would  be  cooled  ami  entirely 
extinguished,  should  this  doctrine  be  de- 
tined.  Such  an  :ipprehension,  it  seems  to 
me,  has  no  t'oundation  .at  all.  Verily,  I 
think  that  if  the  so  much  desired  solution 
were  omitted,  the  love  and  reverence  which 
are  iilVered  l»y  jiious  children  to  the  most 
blessed  Father,  as  a  tribute  of  filial  devo- 
tion, would  not,  }ierliai>s,  remain  the  same. 
But,  on  the  contrary,  if  the  infallibility  of 
the  universal  Doctor  be  detined  and  jiro- 
claimed,  then,  indeed,  will  the  Pastor  of 
the  lambs  and  sheep  be  erowne<l  with  a 
new  li'lorvand  ai)i>ear,  for  the  future,  more 
venerable  an<l  more  worthy  of  love  before 
the  eyes  of  all  true  believers. 

Besides,  it  hi\^  been  said  that  such  a 
deiinition  would  excite  trouble  throughout 
the  world.  Here  it  seems  a  distinction  may 
be  made.  It  will  certainly  excite  trouble, 
hatred  and  execration  among  the  enemies 
of  the  Church,  and  this  is  not  wonderful, 
con>idering  that  a  fuller  allirmation  ofthe 
])rinciple  of  authority  would  not  favor  their 
designs.     It  will  also  create  murmur,  dis- 


ciifih'iil  iilnl  ;i  »iiil  >lii|  "ir  Miiioiiij;  ■  <iiru'  wln»,  <>\\v    ilc-iro,  tliiii    iinlcrtl  ;i  trif.it   ;iiitl   illi- 

ict.iiiiini;    till-    iiMiiit'   (if  ( "Mtlmli.s,  lll'^i^l•  licjinl  of  sorrow  wuiilil  |ici\aili' llu' wIikK' 

iicvcrlliclos   ti>  r«><'(>ivt>  kiixlly  :tii<l  liillDw  new  citiitiuciit,  tVoni  the    iini'tlicni    to    tin' 

tlic  <)|iiiiiiiiis()rM>iiu' wliit  i»(i\frii  tilt' worlil ;  <-oiillit'i'ii  |inlc. 

Init  lliis  |<i-iM'l:iiii:iliuii  ;i>i  soon  ji^  iiiiiilt'  l»y  'rinTcliirt',  omiuirii;'  iiiMiiy  iimmiiis  rcl.it- 
tlh' lidly  Syiiufl,  will  I'likiinlli'  «'Vi'ry\vluTi'  hw:   to    the    wiint' (jiu-tioii,  n'Nlin;i  on  I>i- 
;i    wunu  ami  i'\  ('rla^liii.t  joy  in  the  lirarts  \iin'  ir^linivtiy.iiniinii  at  llic  Lflory  nr(;(»(| 
ol'  all    tli<»»'    wlio   H'rvtiitly  jijloiy  in  tin-  AIniiilily,  and  \vi>liin^  llic  wi'Uiirt' of  tl>»• 
Maln(' ot"  ( 'liri^tian-.  Clinicli,  I  am  iliN|iosc(|  to 'j;iv(.'  my   asH«>nt 
'I'liis  at  lca>t  I  i-an  allirrn  witli  rci^anl  to  to  llic  <li  linitioii  of  the  intiillil>iliiy  tit'  tin* 
Canada,  as  I  liavc  already  >tati'<l,  al>o  with  IJoman  Tontitr  as  it  is    «'\|ir('^s('d    in    tlu' 
ri'i;ai'il    iIm'    va^l   l{('|i>il»lic  of  tin*  Inilcd  t'onrlli  i-haptiT  of  tlic  aicA'//;*/. 
Stales  and  to  (lie  other  parts  of  North  and  +  F.  N.  IW-AN('IIK/r. 
Sonth  Amcrii-n.      l»<it,on   the  contrary,  if  .trc/iliiM/iojt  nf  Orn/tni  Ci/i/. 
the  Vatii-an  Coiineil  would    not   assent   to 


AI)I)1!I']SS  TO  TlIK  IIOLV   FATIIKR 

r/':j:L/X(.s  (^/' syM/'AT/f)'  t\  lui:  DuiEriL  sirrKiuxas 
or  oi'it  tun  A'  FATUEii,  roi'i:  I'li's  i\\  rin:  jmwujiuj: 
VKJAn  OF  (J u HIST.  Till':  saccKsson  or  iiLrssri>  rr/rrn, 
ANi>  riir  surnrMr  iiKAh  or  Tiir  catholic  i'liincii 

ox  rAllTll. 


With  our  lioly  h'alhor  <lo  we,  his  lov- 
ing children  of  this  ec(^leviast,ical  jirovinc^e 
nf  Oregon,  deplore  the  sad  liavoc  infidelily 
has  made  upon  the  minds  of  lliose  wi»'ked, 
men,  wlio,  halHed  in  their  cuimin;^,  deceit- 
ful and  unholy  au;trrcssious,  have  finally, 
by  open  force,  hid  deiiance  to  the  sacred 
innate  j)rineiples  written  from  the  l)ef;;in- 
uin«^  in  the  hearts  of  men,  solemnly  ]iro- 
mulgated  in  the  Old  Law,  and  conlirmcti 
in  the  now  hy  our  Saviour,  Jesus  C'hrist  — 
•'  Thou  shalt  not  steul ;  Thou  shalt  not 
covet  thy  neighbor's  goods." 

From  the  innermost  feelings  of  our 
hearts  do  we  share  the  anguish  of  his  sor- 
row-stricken soul,  on  beholding  the  cry- 
ing injustice  those  misguided  men  have 
wantonly  committed  in  the  spoliation  of 
that  sacred  patrimony  wliich  the  will  of  a 
christian  world,  the  lapse  of  ages,  and  the 
spirit  of  God  had  consecrated  to  the  Apos- 
tolic See,  unto  the  glory  of  the  Iloly 
Church,  and  unto  the  tree,  uneneoini>assed 
exercise  of  the  spiritual  jiower  of  her  Chief 
Pastor.  We  mingle  our  sighs  with  his 
tears  on  witnessing  the  unholy  desecration 
of  those  sacred  temples  and  shrines,  which 
l»ut  yesterday  were  filled  with  the  sweet 
odor  of  sacrifice  and  prayer,  and  are  bc- 
<'ome  to-day  even  the  abode  of  the  brutes. 


With  him  d»>  we  lay  prostrate  at  the 
foot  of  the  Cross,  in  humble  supplications 
to  Almighty  (iod,  that  lie  may  rescue 
His  alllicted  >pouse  and  spai'e  her  the 
heart-rendinji  siirht  of  sacrilege  and  abom- 
ination  with  which  an  infuriated  mob,  as 
so  manv  incarnate  demons,  till  the  Eternal 
City. 

To  show  the  horror  in  which  we  hold 
this  sacrilegious  wrong  done  to  our  Holy 
Father,  and  in  his  person  to  Christ  Him- 
self, Whose  Vicar  he  is  on  earth,  to  brand 
this  wickedness  us  an  insidt  offered  the  two 
hundred  and  fifty  millions  of  Catholics, 
who  revere  l*ius  TX.  as  their  suprenu' 
( 'hief  and  beloved  Father,  therefore  we, 
the  undersigned  liishops,  Clergy  and  faith- 
ful Laity  of  the  Ecclesiastical  Province  of 
Oregon,  from  these  outi)osts  of  Catholic 
civilization,  do  raise  our  voices  and  join  hj 
solemn  protest  with  our  Catholic  brethren 
of  every  nation  and  clime,  against  the  law- 
less invasion  of  the  States  of  the  Church, 
by  the  armed  hosts  of  the  Piedmontese 
king.  We  regard  this  violent  seizure  of 
the  Roman  Territory  as  the  most  barbar- 
ous outrage  hi  an  enlightened  age,  as  a 
most  wicked  rebellion  against  the  dispen- 
sation and  ordinance  of  God ;  as  a  high 
treason,  not   unlike   that  of  the   apostate 


f 


21 


:iii^cU,  M'lio  )iroii<lly   Hoiiuiii    to    ilciliniiic  will   join  ll^  in   thin   our    ^oll•uln    proirht  ; 

tJM'ir  Mukrr,  !Uiil  pliitf   tnt-mxclvoh   in  Hi--  iliiit.rron;    pole   t<»    |io|«',  llir  air  ni;i\  r\u^ 

>4touil.     Wf  ijcrni  onr  and  iill.  who  in  nit\  willi  the  i  r\  of  iiniij^nalion  an<l   ju^l   cwn- 

wuy  III) vt'  lM>(>n  conni vent    in   tlit*   ronNiitn-  ilcniiialion  of  tlir  l)lackt'>t  ninic  tlir  liintorv 

nnUioii  of  tliih  act  of  sa<  rili-iii-,  a^    liir  in  of  onr  day  •<liall  liavr  lo  ncnrd  i'm-  fiiliin- 

ft»rior,  not    only    to  tin-    cliristiani/.rd,  l»iii  a;^'t'>. 

;ilso    to    llic   nalivr  Pa)j;an  f*uva<;.    of  our       |  il.rr  Itillosv^  I li.' "-i'^nai mi  »  ..I  i lie  Mt.^i 

fon.stv  wIm.  with   our   misMimmry    pri.">t.  i.,.v.  Arrld.i«lio|..  il,r  l.'i.J.i   K.-s.  Ki^lmp, 
iind    d»'Vol«'d    r^'ll•Xlou^.  Uni<ll\    shares   tlu  ■  .1      /,i  1   1     •.        .11. 

rtlu'ltcr  01  ni^  wild  ri'CcsM"^.    VVf  iri(--i  tlial  -" 

every  nnin  ol'  honor  within    ih'^  Provin< »  "'  <>ni{«>n.| 


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